Chase Budinger
Encyclopedia
Chase Andrew Budinger is an American
basketball
player who currently plays for the Houston Rockets
of the National Basketball Association. Budinger was the 44th pick in 2009 NBA Draft
with the Detroit Pistons
and was then dealt on draft night to the Houston Rockets
.
and volleyball
player at La Costa Canyon High School
; his teammates on the basketball team included New York Jets
quarterback Kevin O'Connell
. He won the CIF San Diego Section in 2006.
Budinger was a McDonald's All-American and was the runner up in the 2006 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest.
, although he also received offers from many other schools, including USC
and UCLA. He averaged 15.6 points in his freshman season, starting all 30 games for the Wildcats. At the conclusion of the season he announced that he planned to stay with Arizona for his sophomore season, despite speculation that he could be picked early in the NBA draft. However, he later announced that he would declare for the NBA Draft and not hire an agent. He was projected as a mid-first round draft pick by most NBA draft analysts. However, on the final day of the deadline for pulling out of the early entry list, Budinger opted not to remain in the draft and returned to school instead.
After the 2008–09 season, he declared for the NBA Draft a second time
. Under NCAA rules, declaring for the draft a second time ends a player's college eligibility.
| align="left" | 2006-07
| align="left" | Arizona
| 31 || … || … || .485 || .368 || .845 || 5.8 || 2.0 || 1.2 || 0.4 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | 2007-08
| align="left" | Arizona
| 34 || … || … || .446 || .380 || .718 || 5.4 || 2.9 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 17.1
|-
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Arizona
| 35 || … || … || .480 || .399 || .801 || 6.2 || 3.4 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" | …
| 100 || … || … || .469 || .383 || .782 || 5.8 || 2.8 || 1.3 || 0.4 || 17.0
|-
, and averaged 17.8 PPG. In the 2009 season opener for the Rockets, Budinger came off the bench and logged 15 minutes of play time while scoring 6 points and collecting 1 rebound. On March 30, 2010, Budinger scored 24 points in a 98-94 home win against the Washington Wizards. Three days later he matched this total in a 119-114 road win at the Boston Celtics. On February 23, 2011, Budinger scored a new career-high 30 points in a 124-119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. During the Rockets' season finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves
, Budinger scored a new career-high 35 points on 12-21 shooting, including 4-8 from downtown.
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Houston
| 74 || 4 || 20.1 || .441 || .369 || .770 || 3.0 || 1.2 || .5 || .2 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Houston
| 78 || 22 || 22.3 || .425 || .325 || .855 || 3.6 || 1.6 || .5 || .2 || 9.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 152 || 26 || 21.2 || .432 || .346 || .882 || 3.3 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 9.4
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who currently plays for the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
of the National Basketball Association. Budinger was the 44th pick in 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
with the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
and was then dealt on draft night to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
.
High school
Budinger was a standout basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
player at La Costa Canyon High School
La Costa Canyon High School
La Costa Canyon High School is one of the high schools in the San Dieguito Union High School District. Located on 88 acres in south Carlsbad in northwest San Diego County, La Costa Canyon opened in September, 1996. The students attending La Costa Canyon live in Encinitas and south Carlsbad...
; his teammates on the basketball team included New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback Kevin O'Connell
Kevin O'Connell (American football)
Kevin William O'Connell is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
. He won the CIF San Diego Section in 2006.
Budinger was a McDonald's All-American and was the runner up in the 2006 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest.
College
Budinger chose to sign with ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, although he also received offers from many other schools, including USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and UCLA. He averaged 15.6 points in his freshman season, starting all 30 games for the Wildcats. At the conclusion of the season he announced that he planned to stay with Arizona for his sophomore season, despite speculation that he could be picked early in the NBA draft. However, he later announced that he would declare for the NBA Draft and not hire an agent. He was projected as a mid-first round draft pick by most NBA draft analysts. However, on the final day of the deadline for pulling out of the early entry list, Budinger opted not to remain in the draft and returned to school instead.
After the 2008–09 season, he declared for the NBA Draft a second time
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. Under NCAA rules, declaring for the draft a second time ends a player's college eligibility.
NCAA career statistics
|-| align="left" | 2006-07
| align="left" | Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
| 31 || … || … || .485 || .368 || .845 || 5.8 || 2.0 || 1.2 || 0.4 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | 2007-08
| align="left" | Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
| 34 || … || … || .446 || .380 || .718 || 5.4 || 2.9 || 1.1 || 0.2 || 17.1
|-
| align="left" | 2008-09
| align="left" | Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
| 35 || … || … || .480 || .399 || .801 || 6.2 || 3.4 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" | …
| 100 || … || … || .469 || .383 || .782 || 5.8 || 2.8 || 1.3 || 0.4 || 17.0
|-
NBA career
In 2009, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, and then traded to the Houston Rockets on draft night. He joined the Rockets' Summer League teamHouston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, and averaged 17.8 PPG. In the 2009 season opener for the Rockets, Budinger came off the bench and logged 15 minutes of play time while scoring 6 points and collecting 1 rebound. On March 30, 2010, Budinger scored 24 points in a 98-94 home win against the Washington Wizards. Three days later he matched this total in a 119-114 road win at the Boston Celtics. On February 23, 2011, Budinger scored a new career-high 30 points in a 124-119 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. During the Rockets' season finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
, Budinger scored a new career-high 35 points on 12-21 shooting, including 4-8 from downtown.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
| 74 || 4 || 20.1 || .441 || .369 || .770 || 3.0 || 1.2 || .5 || .2 || 8.9
|-
| align="left" | 2010-11
| align="left" | Houston
| 78 || 22 || 22.3 || .425 || .325 || .855 || 3.6 || 1.6 || .5 || .2 || 9.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 152 || 26 || 21.2 || .432 || .346 || .882 || 3.3 || 1.4 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 9.4
- As of April 13, 2011
Awards
- Co-MVP of the 2006 McDonald's High School All-American Game (with Kevin DurantKevin DurantKevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association . A 6'9" small forward/shooting guard who is also capable of playing power forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the...
) - Named the Most Valuable Player of the Nike Junior World Championships in Douai, France
- Named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 US Junior Olympic Volleyball Tournament in the 18 and under division.
- 2006 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest Runner-Up
- Named the 2007 Pac-10 Conference Freshman of the Year