Odds-on favourites for a 15th Olympic Games gold, the United States' men's basketball team met the media at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic park on Thursday (4th August).

SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Krzyzewski, Team USA men's basketball head coach:(On the Olympics / opening ceremony).

"The Olympics tomorrow... the opening ceremony is a showcase for sport worldwide. It's a celebration of every sport from every country under one roof. It's the most beautiful thing in the world and it happens once every four years - and they have a chance to be the men's basketball part of it from the United States, a small part but still a part of it. I think there's no greater honour and there's no greater day than tomorrow for all these athletes."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Carmelo Anthony, Team USA men's basketball:(Comparing feelings at this, his fourth, Olympics to his first).

"The feeling is different, the feeling is different. My first one I was 18, 19 years old and kind of didn't know what to expect and just was kind of just going with the flow. And now, you know, having my feet wet and understanding what it takes to... not just playing the games but to just be a part of an Olympic experience... the feeling is totally different."

SOUNDBITE: (English) DeAndre Jordan, Team USA men's basketball:(On being at the Olympics).

"When I was younger I would think about being an (NBA) All-Star, but now it's out of my mind. Now... this is way bigger than that, this is way bigger than a lot of different things, and just to be able to be here with eleven of the, you know, best basketball players in the world is great."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Klay Thompson, Team USA men's basketball:(On the U.S. basketball teams' cruise ship base).

"It's just like staying in a hotel. You know, we've got a meal room, our room... and we've got a game room... so it's not like we're cruising around on a vacation, it's just like we're at a hotel. But it's nice - and to me, I like the balcony because it's nice because you can see the water, you can see the scenery of Rio. And we're fortunate our sponsors took care of us and we're very thankful for the position we're in."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Demar DeRozan, Team USA men's basketball:(On video of the team singing 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton on plane journey to Rio).

"I mean, with us, you know, when we're not working, if we're not practicing, if we're not playing basketball, (when) we don't have a game... you know, we've got so many great personalities on this team... we play so much so it was just another day for us. We weren't looking at it like we were going to go viral or nothing like that, but to see how big it got and people really paying attention to it, it was cool just to see an insight on what we do, how our day goes."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Kyrie Irving, Team USA men's basketball:(Asked whether Cleveland Cavaliers' teammate LeBron James - now a free agent - has given him advice about the Olympics).

"I feel like you have to kind of have your own experience but he understands what the magnitude of the Olympics (is), of playing, representing your country. So, we didn't really have to have a big conversation about it, but I mean I'm talking to him almost every single day while he's somewhere doing some vacation stuff and I'm over here. So, I'm looking forward to bringing a gold not only back to the USA but as well as back to my organisation (Cleveland Cavaliers)."

SOUNDBITE: (English) DeMarcus Cousins, Team USA men's basketball:(On hoping to see some other Olympic sports in Rio).

"This is my first time so I'm like a kid right now, I'm trying to get into every event I can - so I'm excited about it."