Ex-NBA player turned beach volleyball star wins in Olympic debut

"It definitely lived up to expectations, man. This is absolutely unbelievable, absolutely breathtaking, and the feeling out there is unreal," Budinger said after the match, per David K. Li of NBC News. "I felt like it went too fast. I felt like there were times where I should have enjoyed the view a little more."

Budinger isn't a volleyball novice. The 6-foot-7 high-flyer played indoor volleyball at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California, where he was named 2006 Volleyball Magazine Player of the Year. 

The former McDonald's All-American received dual-sport offers from USC and UCLA before accepting a basketball scholarship from Arizona. He starred for the Wildcats from 2006-09.

Budinger participated in the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest but mainly served as a role player on four teams (Rocket, Timberwolves, Suns and Pacers). In 2017, he left the hardwood and headed to the beach. 

"I kind of wanted to enjoy being home and enjoy not traveling as much. And there was just a lot of little aspects of my life during that time where I wanted to mostly just stay," he told ESPN's Anthony Gharib. "That's ultimately why I switched sports. ... I kind of just wanted a different lifestyle change."

The career change has proved to be the right choice, as it allowed Budinger to fulfill his Olympic dream. Budinger and Evans will face a tough road to the gold medal. According to the FVIB, the duo ranks No. 13 in the world. 

Although he's an underdog, the former forward seems confident. Budinger told the Los Angeles Times' Thuc Nhi Nguyen he and Evans plan to "shock the world."