NBA At 2: Budinger Makes An Impression
By: Bill Ingram Last Updated: 11/10/09 10:59 AM ET | 2337 times read
Adjust font size:When the 2009-10 season kicked off a couple of weeks ago, most pundits weren't giving the Houston Rockets much of a chance to compete for a playoff spot. No Yao Ming, no Tracy McGrady . . .where were they going to get their points? As it turns out, the answer is the same as it has been for the Houston Rockets so many times - they're getting their points from the most unlikely of places. Second round draft pick Chase Budinger, like Luis Scola and Carl Landry before him, is contributing in a big way as a part of head coach Rick Adelman's rotation.
"It's always been about basketball for as along as I can remember," Budinger says of his basketball roots. "Talk to my parents and they'll tell you I always had a ball in my hand. I'm the youngest of three children, so I was always dragged to their games and their practices. I was always watching my older brother and my older sister because they always played basketball, so it was in my blood pretty much. I grew up playing, my parents threw me into camps even when I didn't want to go. I remember a couple when I was really little, I would whine and cry and say I didn't want to go and they would still drag me. But it helped me, I grew up to just love it and I think high school was when I found out that I could play basketball for a very long time."
Budinger was the youngest of three children, and as such had to fight to hold his own - especially against his older brother.
"Me and my brother had some battles in our backyard," Budinger tells HOOPSWORLD. "We always played one-on-one and he used to just kick the crap out of me every time. He would physically just beat me, and it would frustrate me so bad because I was the younger brother, so I wanted to beat him so bad and I just never could. It got to the point where my parents told us that we weren't allowed to play each other any more because it was getting too dangerous. I was around seventh or eighth grade and my brother was a junior in high school or something. That was when they called it off and we haven't really played since. ... I think if I played him (now) I might finally be able to beat him, but you never know. He's the older brother, so he'd probably do anything he could to keep me from winning."
After being drafted, Budinger still had to prove himself worthy of an NBA contract. That started with summer league, where Budinger averaged 17.8 points per game and shot 68% from the field.
"I really had to prove myself in summer league," he explains. "I didn't even have a first-year contract at that time, so I had to go out there and show what I could do and I did. It started there. I knew all along that I could play in this league, I just had to go out there and show it. Summer league was different because of how much we were playing, we had quick turnarounds, back-to-backs, and things like that. Still, it was an enjoyable experience. It was my first time playing an NBA game, so to speak. We were in Vegas, there were a lot of great rookies there, and it was a great experience all around."
Budinger fought hard in training camp and is now a key part of Houston's second unit, averaging better than ten points per game while shooting 53% from the field and 42% from three.
"Chase has been very good," says Rockets VP Sam Hinkie. "He's exceeded expectations for a lot of people so far and we're really pleased with his development. As much as Chase has played well, I think it doesn't get mentioned enough that he has a lot of fans here. He has fans in the front office, obviously, since we drafted him, but he has fans on the coaching staff who are willing to play him, who are willing to trust a rookie in the rotation on opening night. That doesn't happen every day. Chase is a special player and you could argue based on his performance that he deserves to start. I'll tell you that there's a pattern of that around here. There's a pattern that young players who prove themselves to be worthy play and get nourished. That's happening now. We'll see. There's a lot of scouting to be done on Chase around the league, but he's been very good. He was good this summer and he's been good for us so far."
"The coaches have a lot of confidence in me," acknowledges Budinger. "They've given me a lot of trust out there on the court and I'm trying to do anything I can to help the team. When I have an open shot I know I need to make that shot. I try to go out and play hard, but I also have great guys around me who I've been learning from. Having a guy like Shane Battier on the team, who has so much knowledge of the game, especially on the defensive end, I've been picking his brain since I got here. I've asked him question after question every day, what to do in every situation, and I think that's been a big benefit. I feel like I'm getting better with each game and hopefully I can continue to do that."
It's not easy to impress Shane Battier, though he is a willing teacher is anyone asks for his help. That said, Battier is as impressed with his new protégé as is the front office and the coaching staff.
"Chase is going to be a really, really good player in this league for many years," says Battier. "He has all the physical tools, can shoot the ball, he's athletic, but more important he really knows how to play and has a desire to get better. That's what impressive in a young guy. He went to a great program in Arizona. They've had so many great pros and I think Chase is next in line to be one of those great Wildcat alums."
It bodes well for Budinger that he is a willing student, seeking out advice as often as possible. Battier says that's a rare trait in a young player.
"It's rarer than you would guess in this league. A lot of young guys come in thinking they know the answers to everything, but we have good young guys on this team and Chase is one of them. Chase is looking to get better, and anything I can do to help him and his progression I will do because he's a good player and he plays for the right reasons."
With coaches who trust him, a guy like Shane Battier in his corner, and a strong desire to excel, Chase Budinger looks like yet another second round steal for the Houston Rockets . . .and one who will be a huge part of their success this season.
I wish Walsh got this kid.
