"NBA athleticism is unfair"- Fans hail Chase Budinger's impressive display at beach volleyball behind 42-inch vertical

Fans reacted to former NBA player Chase Budinger making his mark in Olympic volleyball. Budinger made his debut with the Houston Rockets in 2009 and stayed there until 2012. He then went on to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Indiana Pacers and the Phoenix Suns. He had a 42-inch vertical coming out of high school.

Budinger was traded to the Brooklyn Nets by the Suns. Shortly after, he was waived by the team on October 18, 2016. Two years later, he made his debut in beach volleyball with Sean Rosenthal.

Fast forward to June this year, Chase Budinger qualified for the Olympic Becah Volleyball. He became the first-ever athlete to play both in the NBA and beach volleyball. Reacting to a video of him blocking a shot on X, formerly known as "Twitter", fans heaped praise on Budinger and his athleticism.

"Look at the hang time the flying motion," a fan wrote.

Some fans said that playing different sports at the highest level was insane.

"Playing in the NBA then competing in the Olympics in a different sport is insane," a fan wrote.

"How some athletes can just cross over and dominate in other sports is incredible," a fan wrote.

Alluding to Budinger winning three state championships in high school and being named National Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine, a fan wrote Budinger could have also played volleyball if he wanted to.

"The dude could have played basketball or volleyball. He just chose to focus on basketball in college. He was the National Player of the Year in volleyball his senior year," a fan wrote.

"Real ones know he was always the better volleyball player," a fan wrote.

Some fans credited Chase Budinger rather than giving credit to the NBA for his athleticism.

"You think he learned how to jump from playing basketball?" a fan wrote.

Chase Budinger says he misses playing basketball

Chase Budinger didn’t have an illustrious basketball career in the NBA. He was once California’s Mr Basketball and was also named co-MVP with Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant at the 2006 McDonald’s All-American. However, the 2009 NBA Draft’s 44th overall pick’s college career didn’t translate the same way in the NBA.

Now that he has a different career as a professional athlete, the beach volleyball Olympian still misses playing basketball. In conversation with Yahoo Sports earlier this month, Budinger spoke to three-time beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings about his life after basketball.

“I miss basketball,” he said. "I mean, it was such a big part of my life for so long. But I’ve kinda put that part of my life away and started this new chapter.”

He also added that the best part about playing basketball in the NBA was how he had created a deep “brotherhood” relationship with his fellow players. Budinger still talks to some of his teammates within the NBA.

On Monday, Chase Budinger and his teammate Miles Evans won the opening game against France. They won the game by 21-14 and 21-11.