 Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James are two of the new generation |
The USA's basketball team is made up of some of the biggest names in the sport - or so the theory goes. After the last Olympics there was talk that the "Dream Team" concept was going to be consigned to the past.
However, following a poor showing at the 2002 World Championships, where the USA finished a disappointing sixth, the National Basketball Association decided to send its "top possible" team.
"We believe the Olympic tournament in Athens will be the most difficult ever. But we will do everything we can to win gold," said Andrew Messick, NBA vice president.
Ever since the sport went professional prior to the 1992 Olympics, the USA have sent an all-star cast to the Games, with the Michael Jordan-led Barcelona-bound team quickly being dubbed the "Dream Team" 12 years ago.
This year they were adamant that the best in the business would be showing off their skills in Athens, but that hope has been blighted by fears over personal safety. One by one NBA stars have pulled out for a variety of reasons, including Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Jason Kidd.
Despite the draft of drop-outs, the USA will still be the team to beat and here BBC Sport profiles the 2004 "Dream Team".
Carmelo Anthony
Age: 20
Position: Forward
NBA Team: Denver Nuggets But for LeBron James, Anthony, who outscored his rookie rival's average of 21 points a game, would have been the success story of the season.
He started the year as the third pick in the draft after helping Syracuse to the college title and finished it behind James in the race for the Rookie of the Year award.
He was the leading scorer for the Nuggets in the regular season could not help his team progress beyond the first round of the play-offs.
Carlos Boozer
Age: 22
Position: Centre
NBA Team: Cleveland Cavaliers At a highly athletic 6ft 9in, the shaven-headed Cavalier is more of a bruiser than a Boozer.
In his second year of the NBA he finished the season as one of the Eastern Conference's top power forwards and was a key component, along with LeBron James, in improving the Cleveland franchise's fortunes.
He averaged 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds and is a versatile front-court option for the USA.
Tim Duncan
Age: 24
Position: Centre
NBA Team: San Antonio Spurs Duncan may not have the profile of the likes of O'Neal or Bryant but he is more than their on-court equal having joined San Antonio in 1997.
A two-time Most Valuable Player, the power forward is a regular in the All-Star team and is the USA squad's leading player.
And while O'Neal has faced a summer of uncertainty over a potential trade, Duncan was given an overwhelming vote of support from the Spurs general manager who insisted "there is one guy who won't be traded".
Allen Iverson
Age: 29
Position: Guard
NBA Team: Philadelphia 76ers The man known as A.I. endured an injury-hit season after suffering cartialage damage to his right knee.
But when on court the first pick in the 1996 draft remains a man to watch having won the Most Valuable Player award in 2001.
Off court he is often plagued by controversy, notably when he was charged with 14 offences after allegedly barging into an apartment with a gun and threatening two men while looking for his wife. All the charges were subsequently dropped.
LeBron James
Age: 19
Position: Guard
NBA Team: Cleveland Cavaliers The number one pick in the 2003 draft, James is the next big thing in basketball.
He had a memorable first season during which he became just the third rookie, after Jordan and Oscar Robertson, to average 20 or more points, five rebounds and five assists and was nominated Rookie of the Year. At just 19 years and four months he was the youngest player to lift the award and will be the youngest player to represent his country at the Olympics since Spencer Haywood in 1968.
Richard Jefferson
Age: 24
Position: Forward
NBA Team: New Jersey Nets Jefferson was a key part of his country's Olympic qualifying campaign but initially failed to make the grade come the main event.
He was focusing on making the Beijing Olympics but has got a call up four years earlier than expected after his best season to date.
In his third year in the NBA he played a career-high 38.2 minutes-a-match, starting all 82 games for the Nets.
Emeka Okafor
Age: 21
Position: Centre
NBA Team: Charlotte Bobcats Fresh out of college basketball and the champion University of Connecticut team, Okafor was the second pick in the recent draft, joining the NBA's newest team.
But prior to proving himself with the Bobcats he has a chance to strut his stuff on the international stage.
The NBA will be a big leap in class, but the Olympics will prove a stepping stone and his strong defence will be a great asset to the squad in Athens.
Stephon Marbury
Age: 27
Position: Guard
NBA Team: New York Knicks One of the more experienced players in the squad, Marbury last played international basketball in 1995.
The point guard is the model of consistency and the man who can make a team tick having finished the season on top of the NBA's assists list.
He recently moved from the Phoenix Suns to New York and got an early taste of the Athens Games when he carried the Olympic torch through the Big Apple.
Shawn Marion
Age: 26
Position: Forward
NBA Team: Phoenix Suns The all-court player has figured in two previous USA teams at the 2001 Goodwill Games and the following year's World Championship when his participation was limited by injury.
He will be hoping for a better result this time out and will be buoyed by a strong showing during the NBA season.
His defensive play may prove crucial to the USA's hopes of winning gold and opponents will have to watch out after he finished the season top of the NBA steals list.
Lamar Odom
Age: 24
Position: Forward
NBA Team: Los Angeles Lakers He was one of three players to go the other way in Shaquille O'Neal's much-publicised move to Miami.
Odom is returning to the city where he first made his name in basketball having broken into the NBA with the Clippers in 1999.
Over the seasons his performances tailed off, but a move to the Heat reignited his form and he was crucial in helping Miami into the Eastern Conference semi-finals with 16 points in the deciding match against the New Orleans Hornets in his only year with the franchise.
Amare Stoudemire
Age: 21
Position: Forward/Centre
NBA Team: Phoenix Suns The 2002/03 Rookie of the Year endured his fair share of injuries during the season but still built on the success of his first year in the NBA.
He increased his averages across the board and his versatility makes him a valuable late addition to the USA squad.
Stoudemire is a hard-working student of the game and will be fresh in Athens having played just 55 games this season.
Dwyane Wade
Age: 22
Position: Guard
NBA Team: Miami Heat He is the third first-season player in the squad having been the fifth draft pick overall in 2003.
But he is a big-time player as was seen in the end-of-season play-offs when his scoring average was higher than in the regular season - 18 points compared to 16.2.
He is a master of all trades, posing a real scoring threat to opponents while also more than adept at turning his hand to defensive duties.
MMIX
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