They may have won 14 of the 18 men’s basketball Olympic gold medals contested so far, but the USA are taking nothing for granted when it comes to defending their title at the Rio 2016 Games. The candidates for next year’s edition of the ‘Dream Team’ came together in Las Vegas on Tuesday (11 August) to prepare and compete for places, with some of the biggest names in the global game present.

It is a line-up to strike fear into the hearts of their rivals. Lebron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony were present as 34 players – including nine Olympic gold medallists – began a three-day ‘minicamp’ at the UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. James and Anthony played at last three Olympic Games, winning two gold medals (London 2012 and Beijing 2008) and one bronze (Athens 2004), while Chris Paul was in London and Beijing.

The team is under the control of coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has won almost everything going since taking charge in 2006, including two World Cups (2010 and 2014) and the last two Olympic Games. “We set out to create a new culture and create a situation where players once again were proud to represent their country,” said national team managing director Jerry Colangelo, who appointed Krzyzewski. “And we also had to win back the respect of the world basketball community.”

Coach Krzyzewski will have the difficult task of whittling down the squad of 34 to just 12 players before they come to Rio next year, but Colangelo stressed that, with just under a year to go until the Games, this week’s gathering would be more about building team spirit than intensive training. “With this being a summer where we do not have an official competition that we need to prepare for, this year’s minicamp is an opportunity to continue and expand the brotherhood and camaraderie that has been built,” he said.

The USA were the first team qualify for the Rio 2016 men’s basketball tournament, when they won last year’s World Cup. Brazil have also had their place as host nation confirmed and the other 10 teams will be confirmed via five continental qualification events and the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

 Click here to follow the race to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.