Basketball is an American game and thus Team USA feels they rightfully own prestige in this sport, which is now played by almost every nation. Unfortunately, the team has been beaten several times in the past. In the 2002 FIBA World Championships held in Indianapolis, Team USA ranked sixth while in the 2004 Athens Olympics, the team landed on the third place. Of course, they expected to bag the gold medal.

Now, the team raise their expectations again as they religiously undergo training in preparation for the 2006 Basketball World Championship to be held in Japan. They go through a “historic” kind of training under a new coach, Mike Krzyzewski. Historic because of its originality, explains Krzyzewski. After eating their breakfast, the team, which includes LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Elton Brand, head for the classroom where they study charts, watch instructive videos and listen to guest lecturers. Guidelines on how to treat teammates and how to behave in the game are established and instilled among the players. Sounds elementary but that’s where they must start.

Krzyzewski and managing director of the men's USA Senior National Team Jerry Colangelo would like to train the players with emphasis on values so that this year’s team will not just be a team of All-Stars but a team with sense of unity, respect and patriotism.