Kevin Durant and Chase Budinger nurtured hoop dreams in their youth, propelling them to successful NBA careers. But their ambitions for the 2024 Paris Olympics reveal distinct paths in their sports journeys .
Durant and Budinger's shared history dates back to 2006 when both athletes were named co-MVPs of the McDonald's All-American game, a heralded milestone in high school basketball. Following that accolade, they launched their collegiate careers, with Budinger attending Arizona and Durant enrolling at Texas.
Durant's collegiate stint was brief but impactful, leading to him being named the national player of the year and the Seattle Supersonics selecting him second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft . On the other hand, Budinger spent two additional years in college, needing more preparation before turning pro, but the Detroit Pistons drafted him 44th overall in the second round in 2009.
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Durant's NBA career flourished, establishing him as one of the greatest players of his generation . He has accumulated numerous accolades, including the 2014 league MVP, two NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, and 14 All-Star selections. In contrast, Budinger's NBA journey was more modest. His peak scoring came during his third and fourth years with the Houston Rockets . After being waived by the Brooklyn Nets in 2016, Budinger made a surprising shift to beach volleyball.
He spent a season in the EuroLeague with Baskonia in Spain before transitioning full-time to beach volleyball. Budinger quickly succeeded in his new sport, earning Rookie of the Year in 2018 and Most Improved Player in 2019 on the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) tour.
Having reinvented himself as a beach volleyball player, Budinger seeks to establish a legacy in a new sport. He has three state titles as an indoor volleyball player and will aim to collect his first Olympic medal. Budinger was also the first NBA player to convert to beach volleyball successfully.
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In Paris, Budinger and his partner Miles Evans won their opening match against France 2-0 in Pool F. They are set to continue their campaign against the Netherlands duo Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot. Meanwhile, Durant continues to be a pivotal figure for USA Basketball.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, he sparked Team USA to a dominant 110-84 victory in their opening group stage match against Serbia, the same team they defeated to clinch gold in 2016. Durant's performance was nearly perfect . He recorded 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting in the first half, including 5-5 from beyond the arc.
Returning from an injured calf that sidelined him from exhibition play, Durant scored 23 points, six rebounds, and three assists in just 22 minutes. He'll look to become the first American player to collect four Gold medals and is already the best scorer in U.S. men's history with 458 points.
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