Former Rockets player is an Olympic star - in a different sport

Being a professional athlete is impressive. It's a dream that many have, and few realize.

So, being a multisport professional athlete is doubly impressive, right? Imagine - you enjoy a solid NBA career. It ends, and you pick up another sport. It's almost unthinkable, right?

Not for former Houston Rockets player Chase Budinger. He spent 7 seasons in the NBA, including his first 3 with the Rockets. Now, he's representing the USA in the Olympics - as a volleyball player.

Former Houston Rockets player starring in Olympics

Budinger and his partner Miles Evans defeated the hosting France team in their opening Olympic contest. It was an impressive debut for Budinger. He says he leaned on his NBA experience to help him.

“I really tried to use my basketball experience of playing in front of big crowds to be composed the whole time"

- Chase Budinger

That makes sense. Budinger was a solid contributor in the NBA, but he wasn't among the league's elite. He had to earn his spot in the Association.

Budinger was an exciting member of Houston Rockets

Budinger's best NBA season came with the Rockets in 2011-12. He averaged 9.6 points per game while shooting 40.2% from three-point range.

Budinger wasn't strictly a three-point specialist. If he was open on a fast break, he was likely to bring the house down with a dunk. In 2012, he participated in the NBA Dunk Contest.

Those hops are surely beneficial in volleyball as well. By contrast, Budinger's inconsistent three-point shooting won't be an issue for him anymore. After posting elite accuracy in 2011-12, his percentage dropped to 32.1% in 2012-13.

That didn't help his NBA career. Neither did his body. In 2013-14, during his first season after being traded to the Timberwolves, Budinger tore a meniscus in his left knee. Arguably, that makes his reinvention as a volleyball star even more impressive:

As if it wasn't impressive enough.