Basketball and volleyball are kindred sports in many ways, even brothers, so to speak. Both sports originated in a YMCA in Massachusetts only 4 years and about 10 miles apart. Both sports are intricately linked to the YMCA and Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. The “inventors” of the two sports were two very smart guys – James Naismith for basketball and William Morgan for volleyball – who actually knew each other. In many instances, the two sports require similar skills (quickness, stamina, vertical leap, lateral movement, eye-to-hand coordination, and physical strength) for success. In Europe, volleyball and basketball, along with soccer, are rivals for the position of the most popular sport. In the US, however, popularity widely separates the two sports, with volleyball only dreaming of the popularity which the NBA has already achieved. NBA is always the sport that is on everyone’s lips. A real gentleman’s sport too. If you were to ask a young American boy who is idol was, he might say Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Giannis Antetokounmpos, probably inspired by their intense passion for the sport. Giannis Antetokounmpos career games are always especially gripping. Not to mention many sportsmen and women in this spotlight come from different upbringings, and work hard to defy all odds to reach their dream. It’s inspiring.
Nonetheless, there have been several prominent athletes who played both sports extremely well. We’ll look at some great volleyball players who also played basketball and some great NBA players who also played – or even still play – volleyball.
But first, it is undeniable that our favorite sports stars have a lot more to offer besides entertaining us on the basketball or volleyball court.
For instance, once sports stars retire, they can in fact go on to enjoy an illustrious career as a motivational speaker. You can learn more about some of the most popular sports stars who now lead motivational talks by heading to the Sports Speakers 360 website.
So, when I think of great volleyball players who also played in or are connected to NBA basketball, five names immediately came to my mind. Alphabetically, then, we have Mike Dodd, Greg Lee, Chris Marlowe, Paul Sunderland, and Mike Whitmarsh.
Mike Dodd is one of the legends of beach volleyball, where he won 75 professional tournament titles and an Olympic silver medal. Dodd also played college basketball at San Diego State University so well that he was drafted by the (then) San Diego Clippers of the NBA. He chose to forego basketball and instead play volleyball.
Greg Lee is also one of the legends of beach volleyball with 29 professional tournament titles to his credit. Lee is probably better known, however, as the starting point guard on the UCLA NCAA championship basketball teams of 1972 and 1973 with a very tall, lanky, red-headed center by the name of Bill Walton. Lee played two years of professional basketball before returning to the beach and volleyball.
Chris Marlowe won an NCAA men’s volleyball title at San Diego State University in 1973 as well as an Olympic gold medal in volleyball in 1984. Additionally, Marlowe was a four year player on the SDSU Aztecs basketball team. He is perhaps better known now, however, as the play-by-play announcer for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.
Paul Sunderland also won an Olympic gold medal in volleyball at the 1984 Olympics with his future broadcast partner Chris Marlowe. He was a late comer to volleyball who didn’t play the game until after high school. When it comes to sports, many athletes who go on to become professional usually start as young children who need to find the best equipment and clothing, (go to this site for customized options) to get ahead of their competitors. But this wasn’t the case for this Olympic gold medalist who started his career much later. Sunderland was a four year basketball and volleyball athlete at Loyola Marymount University. Sunderland’s best tie to the NBA is that he replaced the famous Chick Hearn as the announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mike Whitmarsh was one of the greats of beach Volleyball, winning an Olympic silver medal in beach Volleyball with Mike Dodd in the 1996 Olympics. Whitmarsh played basketball at the University of San Diego and had a “cup of coffee” in the NBA before playing professional Basketball in Europe for three years. He joined the AVP beach Volleyball tour and won 28 professional tournament titles, also with Mike Dodd.
So, here’s five NBA players who played high level volleyball. Alphabetically, then, we have Chase Budinger, Judd Buechler, Vince Carter, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kevin Love.
Chase Budinger of the Indiana Pacers. Chase actually played beach Volleyball during the 161 days of the 2011 NBA lockout and is an outstanding Volleyball player, at one time considered the top high school Volleyball prospect in the USA. His brother Duncan Budinger plays on the pro beach volleyball tour and is constantly trying to get Chase on the sand. NBA rules and contracts, however, now prohibit an NBA player from playing another professional sport.
Jud Buechler, retired NBA player. Judd was a role player for several NBA teams who had his greatest success with Jordan’s Bulls. Buechler was also Steve Kerr’s roommate at Arizona. Judd competed on the AVP pro beach volleyball tour and the Bud Light four man tour and is still playing volleyball today somewhere on the California beaches.
Vince Carter of the Memphis Grizzlies. Vince was an all-conference high school volleyball player at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was also the volleyball Conference Player of the Year. It’s not hard to imagine what he could have done in Volleyball with that vertical. Think of Taylor Sander, former BYU volleyball star, four–time volleyball All-American, NCAA volleyball Player of the Year, and current professional volleyball player in Europe. However, as an eight time All-Star, Vince has certainly provided the fans with some great entertainment.
Wilt Chamberlain, retired NBA player and legend both on and off the court. Any discussion of the greatest player in NBA history has to include Wilt Chamberlain. The “Big Dipper” played for three NBA teams and is still the leading rebounder in NBA history, with an incredible 22.9 rebounds per game average. Wilt is also the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game. And, he led the NBA in assists one season. At 7’1″ tall and 275 pounds, he was literally and figuratively larger than life. Wilt played professional volleyball after the NBA and, although he was indeed a very good volleyball player, he was not a great volleyball player, according to people who saw him play.
Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Love, like Chase Budinger, also competed in some pro beach Volleyball tournaments during the 2011 NBA lockout, showing some “great potential” according to other competitors. Love is from California and seems to have the California love of beach Volleyball. However, with a base salary around 20 million dollars, he probably made the right decision.
Basketball and volleyball. Two brothers who are as different as night and day. Each is a great sport with much to offer the sporting world. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just sit back and enjoy both of them for the sports they truly are?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BILL HARVEY, Editor and Senior Columnist
Call sign “Stats”, is a former college basketball player, basketball referee, Army officer, and college instructor in technical writing with a public relations and journalism background. He is also editor of the Net Set blog at http://thenetsetblog.com.
BA degree from Xavier University and MA degree in Information Management.
