Chase Budinger, former NBA player, made his Olympic debut in beach volleyball, winning his first match with partner Miles Evans.
Budinger and Evans defeated the French team 21-14, 21-11 in their opening match at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.
At 36, Budinger is the first athlete to have played in both an NBA regular season game and an Olympic beach volleyball game.
Budinger spent 7 seasons in the NBA, playing over 400 games before transitioning to professional beach volleyball.
The U.S. duo of Budinger and Evans entered the Olympics ranked 13th in the world.
Budinger showcased his 6'7" frame and NBA-level jumping ability with impressive blocks during the match.
Before his NBA career, Budinger was offered scholarships for both basketball and volleyball at USC and UCLA.
Budinger and Evans aim to be the first U.S. men's beach volleyball team to win a medal since the 2008 Beijing Games.