The United States made their first ever appearance in basketball-mad China in preparation for the World Championships in Japan, as they work towards regaining global superiority.

NBA star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes the ball up court during a USA training session in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province. [AFP]

Led by standouts Dwyane Wade, Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony, the team is aiming to again be number one after finishing a disappointing sixth in the 2002 World Basketball Championships and taking bronze at the 2004 Olympics.

They will play warm-up matches here against China and Brazil.

"There are no more waltzes," NBA Commissioner David Stern said when asked if Team USA would have an easy time at the World Championships.

"They didn't waltz through the first round in either Athens or in Indianapolis (2002)."

Basketball fans around the world will be watching to see if the US can regain its traditional global dominance or continue to slide in the face of improving world competition, he said.

"We are very interested to see what happens. This team has practiced and they have an exhibition schedule that is the most intense of any preparations," Stern said.

"I would say the US team has very good chances."

On Monday, the Americans take on China, but NBA All Star Yao Ming remains unsure if he will be healthy enough to make his first appearance with the national side since breaking a foot in an April match for the Houston Rockets.

"Right now the injury is about 80 percent recovered, but there is still a little instability," Yao told the Chinese press in Beijing.

"The doctors are telling me to look at this from the long-term perspective and avoid high-level competition, so although I'll be in Guangzhou, I might not play."

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