Los Angeles - Four years ago, the United States claimed a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Star-studded Team USA is determined to change that colour to gold when the 2008 Games commence August 8 in Beijing, China. "Our only goal in Beijing is to win the gold medal," said LeBron James, one of the holdovers from the 2004 squad. "That should be everybody's goal, even if you are not even a part of this team. Everybody in America should have the same goal for any Olympian going over there wearing the red, white and blue, not just the basketball team."
James (Cleveland Cavaliers) is joined by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers), Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks).
The American men have won 12 gold medals in Olympic basketball, most recently in 2000. But after compiling a 109-2 record, the US lost three games in the 2004 Olympics, including a semi-final setback to eventual champion Argentina.
"We can't just walk in there and think we are going to walk into the gold medal because that's not the case," Williams said. "People don't fear the USA like they used to."
Watching the US take home bronze motivated Bryant, who will be making his Olympic debut.
"You are dealing with national pride," said Bryant, arguably the best player in the NBA. "You never want to see the US lose in anything - water polo, soccer, whatever it is. And, in this case, even more so, because it's basketball and that's what I do."
Although the US appears to be the favourite, it is expected to face stiff competition from the Manu Ginobili-led Argentina team and the Pau Gasol-led Spanish squad, which captured the 2006 World Championships in Japan.
"Everybody's a top opponent, but you have to go with defending champion Argentina because they are the champs," Bryant said. "They'll be Olympic champions until somebody knocks them off."
Due to an ankle injury suffered in the NBA playoffs while playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Ginobili was only confirmed as a Beijing starter on July 18 by the Argentine Olympic Committee.
"I have been playing more the last few days and it has improved," Ginobili said. "It feels great, and that makes me very happy."
However, Argentina also will not have point guard Pepe Sanchez and forward Walter Herrmann, NBA players who retired from international competition earlier this year, but Fabricio Oberto has recovered from a calf injury.
Argentina is in Group A with Russia, Australia, Iran, Lithuania and Croatia, which earned a spot at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens.
Spain is also a top contender for the gold, but Gasol knows it won't be easy, especially against the Americans. The Spaniards went 5-0 in group play in 2004 but lost their quarter-final match against Team USA.
"Team USA is the clear favourite, but that is something they have to prove on the court," said Gasol, the MVP of the 2006 World Championships.
"They are a very strong team with almost all the best players in the NBA. A different matter is whether things will go their way and whether the team finds synergy, something that is not easy when you have so many stars."
Besides the Americans, there are other nations posing a threat to Spain and new coach Aito Garcia Reneses.
"There are other teams, like Greece (if they qualify), Argentina and Russia - the European Champions - that are also strong," Gasol said.
Team USA is in Group B with Spain, Angola, Yao Ming-led host China, Greece and Germany.
The Americans open on August 10 vs. China, then play Angola on August 12. Their showdown with Spain is August 16, between contests against Greece and Germany, who, like Croatia, made it to Beijing via the qualifying tournament in Athens in July.
The quarter-finals are August 20, semi-finals two days later and the medal games are August 24.
"Winning this gold medal is not just about me, it's about winning it for all the fans," Howard said. "We want to have that same love that the 1992 Dream Team had and bring basketball back to where it was."
