Chase Budinger, Miles Evans inspired by US support group in beach volleyball win

PARIS — Match won, a domination really, the beach volleyball tandem of Chase Budinger and Miles Evans looked to the southeast corner of Centre Court of Eiffel Tower Stadium – the side with the best view of the international landmark – and raised their arms above their heads and pointed in celebration and recognition.

Waving and yelling back Monday were more than 80 family members, friends and neighbors, their closest supporters, who were significantly outnumbered. 

“USA! USA! USA! Chase Chase Chase! Miles Miles Miles!” they all yelled back to the sand a yeoman’s throw from the base of the Eiffel. 

The vast majority of the stadium, beyond the general anti-American sentiment in the stands to start the beach volleyball competition, was cheering for the host country team of Arnaud Gauthier-Rat and Youssef Krou. 

That didn’t matter to Budinger, the former NBA player pursuing his Olympic dream in a different sport that requires the use of the skills from his previous career, and Evans. The United States rolled to a two-set victory (21-14, 21-11) in a match that took 33 minutes. 

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“It was so much fun. It was so loud in there,” Budinger said after the match. “The French fans really came out there to support their team.” 

During the pre-match introductions, the home crowd went into a frenzy for the French duo. Budinger turned to Evans and said “Man, this is a great feeling.”  

It was as if he had been transported to his past life. The memories of a seven-year NBA career that ended in 2016 following stints with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns came flooding back in the best way possible. 

“I love playing against this,” he said. “It just brought back a lot of memories, going into NBA arenas and playing on the road.” 

Having a boisterous cheering section who had practiced their chants and hung best they could with the French crowd helped. 

“Our cheering section was awesome,” Budinger said. “They gave us a lot of energy, a big boost. Anytime we made a big play, I looked up into our section, because I knew we had about 80 to 100 strong up there.” 

Evans said his family doesn’t travel much internationally to watch him play. But they wouldn’t miss the Olympics. 

“For them to be here now, it just means the world to me,” he said. 

Let’s hear from the proud dads. 

“Amazing, exhilarating, ground-shaking. It was just incredible,” said Patrick Evans, Miles’ father. “(Evans) heard us. And he answered our call.” 

“Wonderful experience, first to be in the Olympics, and win the first match?” Duncan Budinger, Chase’s father, told USA TODAY Sports. “Doesn’t get any better.” 

Evans and Budinger had about 40 people apiece supporting them. But they were one team in the bleachers. 

“It was overwhelming,” Jess Budinger, Budinger’s wife, told USA TODAY Sports. “It was so cool to watch my husband’s dreams come true.

“I’m shaking.”  

Budinger chose to play college basketball at Arizona, which does not field a men’s volleyball team. Had he remained in his native California at either Southern Cal or UCLA, he would have played both sports. Coming from an Olympics-loving home, Budinger put the Olympic rings on his dream board as a child but never specified a sport. 

“It’s definitely lived up to expectations, man,” he said. “This is absolutely unbelievable, absolutely breathtaking. The feeling out there is unreal.” 

If Budinger had any regret from the match, it’s that it went by too quickly. He said he should have looked up and enjoyed the view or maybe tried to stretch out the timeouts. 

For the French team, the raucous environment was actually distracting. After the Americans ran away with the first set, the crowd tried to implore the players by singing an impromptu version of the national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” as the second set began. The serenade had little effect. In a blink, Budinger and Evans had built a 12-6 lead and had the match in hand. 

“It’s very hard to focus on the game when you’re hearing all of the songs,” Gauthier-Rat said. “We felt loved.” 

Evans led the way with 13 attack points. Budinger was solid from the serving line and had three aces. His presence at the net, though, was the game-changer; he finished with four block points. 

“It doesn’t matter what sport,” Mara Budinger, Chase’s mom, told USA TODAY Sports, “if you’re ‘on,’ it’s your day.” 

Budinger’s experience of playing in high-stakes situations before made a difference, one of his opponents said.  

“I don’t know if it has to do with his NBA experience, but from my experience, he was the only composed player on the court,” said Gauthier-Rat, who also faced the same decision of whether to pursue basketball or indoor volleyball (his grandfather, Michel Rat, played on the French national team). “The three others, his partner and both of us, were more stressed, feeling more pressure. And he was feeling more relaxed, and he was able to put pressure on us and not make mistakes and dealt, generally, with the emotions better.” 

That NBA experience also played out during the opening ceremony Friday. Members of the men’s basketball team who crossed paths in the pros with Budinger came by to say hello. 

“It’s like, ‘Really, this guy’s my partner?’ ” Evans said. 

LeBron James did a double-take when Budinger called out to the Team USA flag-bearer.

“Chase?” the four-time MVP said. 

Budinger hopes that, should the men’s team advance to the semifinals of the Olympic tournament, players can attend one of his matches. But if both teams are in the gold-medal matchup, there will be a scheduling conflict, as those tilts are an hour apart on Aug. 10. 

One of the most boisterous members of the Budinger-Evans congregation was Budinger’s next-door neighbor, David Toomey. His wife, Susan Toomey, outfitted their entire block in southern California with signs to support Evans and Budinger. 

David Toomey doesn’t miss a match. If they’re playing in southern California, he goes. If they’re halfway across the world, he’s up at 3 a.m. PT to stream it.  

“I will (watch) every game he plays,” Toomey told USA TODAY Sports. 

And he greets Budinger with a similar message every time he comes home from wherever his volleyball travels have taken him. 

“We just say, ‘Mentally, you are the Michael Jordan of beach volleyball. There’s no reason you should lose. It’s all mental. So play your best.’ ”

Follow Christopher Bumbaca on social media @BOOMbaca