2025: Budinger continued his partnership with Evans, placing second in the AVP season opener in Huntington Beach followed by winning in Manhattan Beach. They again played for the San Diego Smash in the AVP League, and again finished 4-4 in the regular season but lost in the quarterfinals of the League Championship. Budinger and Evans competed 13 times on the World Tour, advancing to two semifinals including winning a silver medal in a Challenge event.

2024: Budinger and Evans placed third in both of their AVP tournaments. The duo competed for the San Diego Smash in the inaugural season of the AVP League. After compiling a 4-4 regular season record the duo won their semifinal match and lost in the championship match but combined with the women's duo to win the Golden Set and claim the League Championship. Budinger and Evans played 12 World Tour events together, using a pair of fourths and four fifths to qualify for the Paris Olympics, where the duo placed ninth. They won a gold in their only NORCECA event. 

2023: Budinger began a new partnership with Miles Evans, placing second in their debut in the AVP season opener in Miami. The duo added another second and a third, plus finished fifth three times in their six AVP tournaments together. Internationally the duo played 13 times. After losing in the qualifier in their first outing the advanced from the qualifier to win a silver in a Challenge event in Brazil. Budinger and Evans lost in the qualifier in the Olympic test event in Paris, followed by a 17th in the World Championships in Mexico. They later won a gold and a bronze in Challenge events.

2022: Budinger and Troy Field played eight AVP tournaments together, finishing second and third in the first two events of the year. They had one other third place finish in their next six events, then Budinger ended the season playing with Reid Priddy, placing ninth. Budinger and Field played seven World Tour events with a best of a silver medal in a Challenge event.

2021: Budinger reunited with Casey Patterson and the duo was the top team on the AVP Tour. They played in the championship in all three AVP tournaments, winning twice. On the year they were 15-3 in matches, with all three losses coming to Tri Bourne and Trevor Crabb. Budinger was seventh in hitting percentage (.454) and ninth in blocks (1.37 per set). Budinger played twice with Patterson internationally, losing in the qualifier both times, then played twice with Troy Field, winning a silver medal in Rwanda.

2020: Budinger and Chaim Schalk played in the three AVP tournaments in Long Beach, finishing third twice. Budinger was fourth in aces (.63 per set), sixth in blocks (1.15 per set) and eighth in hitting percentage (.392). The duo competed internationally once, losing in the country quota. 

2019: Budinger formed a partnership with Casey Patterson, playing in seven AVP events together. The pair won once, finished second twice, and third three times. Budinger and Patterson had an impressive 25-1 record when winning the first set. Budinger was fourth on the Tour in hitting percentage (.480) and fifth in blocks (1.60 per set). Budinger and Sean Rosenthal competed once on the FIVB Tour, then he paired with Patterson for 10 tournaments, getting a best of fifth three times.

2018: Budinger began playing on the AVP Tour with Sean Rosenthal. The duo played six times, with a best of second. Budinger ranked sixth on the Tour in kills (6.98 per set) and eighth in hitting percentage (.454). The tandem played five times on the FIVB Tour, with a best of ninth.

2011: Budinger competed in his first pro beach volleyball event in a domestic tour with Dane Jensen, finishing 33rd.

College: Budinger was a three-year starter in basketball at Arizona, playing in the NCAA Tournament each year.

Personal: Budinger was the 44th pick in 2009 NBA Draft with the Detroit Pistons and was then dealt on draft night to the Houston Rockets.  Budinger played 407 games in the NBA over seven seasons from 2009 until 2016 with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns. He competed in the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Budinger has an older sister, Brittanie, who played volleyball at San Francisco, and an older brother, Duncan, who played on the AVP. In high school Budinger was rated as the No. 4 basketball player in the country by Rivals.com while also being named the Mizuno National Player of the Year by Volleyball Magazine.