Truth Behind the Diddy Dunk: Who is the NBA Star That Dunked Over P Diddy?

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, aka P. Diddy or Puff Daddy, was once one of the biggest names in the hip-hop community. However, things turned sour for him after a series of heinous allegations came at once and turned his life upside down.

Amid all the names and organizations that were connected with Diddy, the NBA was one. The rapper was often seen attending NBA events, and many top names from the game were often seen partying with him. However, one particular incident linked to Diddy made the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest memorable forever.

Chase Budinger- The Man Behind Diddy Dunk

Diddy, being a big fan of the sport, was present in the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where players like Jeremy Evans, Paul George, and Derrick Williams were present. Among them, one name was Chase Budinger.

Although he didn’t win the contest, Budinger made sure to be remembered as he performed one of the most high-profile slams ever. The player managed to bring Diddy to assist him with one of his dunks, and surprisingly, the rapper agreed. According to Bleacher Report, Budinger approached Diddy, saying,

Hey, Diddy…it’s me, Chase Budinger. I was just wondering if you think, maybe, it would be cool if I could jump over you in the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk competition? Because I was invited to do that this year.

Diddy proposed the idea to emulate the basketball movie White Man Can’t Jump, which happened to be his favorite basketball movie. It explored the stereotype that white people lack the athletic ability to perform high-flying slam dunks. However, Budinger accepted the challenge, saying “White men can jump and I’m about to prove it right now,” (via YouTube).

At that time, Budinger was having just 9 dunks in his career. However, he managed to jump over Diddy, slamming the ball through the hoop. Though he didn’t have a great NBA career, he etched his name forever.

Budinger was once the MVP along with NBA star Kevin Durant in the 2006 McDonald’s All-American game. He was the 44th pick by Detroit Pistons in the 2009 draft before he moved to Houston Rockets. He had an average of 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds during his 3 seasons with the Rockets. His final NBA season was with Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns.

Currently, he has transitioned into beach volleyball and even represented the US Olympic team in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Why Diddy Dunk Is Resurfacing Again?

Diddy is currently facing all sorts of lawsuits and allegations, from sexual assault to harassment to s*x trafficking. It all picked up pace in 2023 when his ex-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura accused him of r*pe and assault.

Diddy has been accused of using his high-profile parties for trafficking and sexual assaults, and many NBA players have been spotted attending his parties. One big name among them is LeBron James, who has currently unfollowed him on social media and decided not to comment on the issue.

However, Chase Budinger’s slam dunk is getting resurfaced for all sorts of wrong reasons. In the video, it can be seen that Budinger brushed past Diddy’s head while making his jump. What made it more bizarre was that Diddy was tiptoeing at the time to increase his height.

This brought him suspiciously closer to Budinger’s groin region. Moreover, instead of putting his head down, which is what most do while assisting dunks, Diddy was looking above and smiling.

All these brought a whole different meaning after his current allegations. As of now, the rapper has been denied bail and is awaiting his trial in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.