Ex-Arizona Wildcat, professional beach volleyball player Chase Budinger eyeing Olympics

Chase Budinger hasn't played an NBA game in nearly two years, but his new career could take him to the Olympics. And it doesn't require hardwood and two baskets, but rather sand and a net. 

The 29-year-old Budinger announced in January that he would team up with two-time Olympian Sean Rosenthal in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.

TMZ caught up with Budinger in an airport and asked about Budinger's "ultimate goal" as a professional beach volleyball player is to participate in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, or the 2024 games in Los Angeles. 

Here's the full interview with Budinger:

In the interview with TMZ, also mentioned Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton and NBA veteran Richard Jefferson, both former Wildcats, play beach volleyball with Budinger from time-to-time during the offseason in the summer. 

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Although Budinger is a rookie, he's no stranger to volleyball. As a senior at La Costa Canyon High School in Encinitas, California, the 6-foot-8 outside hitter was named the Mizuno National Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine in 2006. Of course as a McDonald's All-American and a five-star recruit, he chose the basketball route and played at the UA for three seasons, before playing six seasons in the NBA. 

Budinger also said he trained with Rosenthal for the last two months and is eager to get started on tour in May. 

“There’s a lot of learning, a lot of grinding, getting my beach legs,” Budinger told Volleyball Mag. “It’s been fun. It’s going well, but it’s rough being out there for 90 minutes or two hours, you start feeling it in your quads, calves, and hamstrings. It’s a learning curve, you just have to get out there every day and be out there and get used to it, and the sand legs will come.

“I’ve always wanted to come back, compete at beach volleyball and strive for the Olympics. I think my basketball career ended a little early, which is good and bad. It’s bad because I thought I could play 10-12 years, but with injuries and bad luck that didn’t happen, but good also because I’m younger and I’m able to get out on the beach sooner, which will help me in the long run for beach volleyball.”

Budinger's debut on tour is set for May 1-6 in Huntington Beach, California.