Match promoters are saying otherwise.

NBA star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets follows through on a shot during a practice session for China, in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province. [AFP]

Yao's picture is plastered on billboards and buses throughout this southern city in adverts for the game where tickets will cost fans up to 3,800 yuan (470 dollars), or about the annual income of a Chinese farmer.

Demand has been massive and no tickets are left for the match at the 10,000-seat Guangzhou Gymnasium which will be televised live nationwide.

Fans gathered outside the facility Sunday where the US was practicing in hopes of catching a glimpse of what the local press is calling the "Dream Team."

"They are the best basketball players in the world," said one fan. "We see them all the time on television, so I came over to see what they look like in person."

On Tuesday, Team USA will play Brazil before two warm-up games in South Korea ahead of the championships to be played in Japan from August 19-September 3.

"Our players are very excited to be here ... my main concern is with my own team, how we play each time at practice and in the games," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

"My part is to get star players from a number of teams to play together as one team."

On Thursday in Las Vegas, the United States thrashed Puerto Rico 114-69 in its first tune-up game, with Anthony of the Denver Nuggets scoring 18 points and NBA finals most-valuable-player Wade of the Miami Heat chipping in 14.

"In these games we are going to go all out, we want the team to play hard and aggressive," US assistant coach Mike D'Antoni said.

"Some teams are holding back and not showing there full strength (in the warm-up games), but we aren't going to do that."

At the World Championships, the USA and China are in Group D with Puerto Rico, Senegal, Slovenia and Olympic silver medalists Italy.

Only the winner of the 24-team World Championships and the Olympic hosts automatically qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing.