Just two years ago, under coach Larry Brown, the 2.03m forward spent most of his time warming the USA bench at the Athens Olympics.

Today, Anthony is one of the three captains and a major weapon on offense in an American side looking to win gold after disappointments four years ago in Indianapolis and in Greece in 2004.

With six victories taken so far in Japan, Anthony & Co are on their way to glory.

The 22-year-old spoke to PA Sport's Cindy Garcia-Bennett on behalf of FIBA, about his first World Championship.

FIBA: You look a completely different player from the Anthony we saw in Athens two years ago. What has changed?

Anthony: "I really feel more confident out here than I did in Athens. This is a better situation. We have a new team and I think everyone is having fun. We have a new program, a new coach and I'm really happy to be here."

FIBA: Mike Krzyzewski chose you alongside Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to captain this team in Japan. How important was this for you?

Anthony: "Coach K 's decision to give me a leading role in this team has given me a lot of confidence. Having said that, confidence is something that I have always had, even when things go wrong I never let it discourage me."

FIBA: You have already written your name in the history books back home having netted a record 35 points in a game at the FIBA World Championship in the Group D triumph against Italy. You had a game-high 20 points in the demolition of Australia. Can you keep it up?

Anthony: "I really hope so, I am going to be working on it."

FIBA: Where you surprised that you were able to run away from Australia in the second quarter?

Anthony: "The key to the game was that we played focused. The first quarter it was a close game and then we played our defense on full court so I think that was the key."

FIBA: Possibly the biggest difference between this game and the close contest against Italy was your perimeter shooting. This appeared to catch Australia off guard.

Anthony: "After the game against Italy we worked on our shooting. We have all our 12 guys who can hit open shots and I think we proved that against Australia."

FIBA: Against Australia you faced Andrew Bogut. Will you be ready to face Dirk Nowitzki on Wednesday against Germany?

Anthony: "Each game you play it's going to be a little more difficult. This game is going to be more challenging than the game against Australia. With Dirk, we need no introduction, we all know what type of game he's got, what type of player he is so he is going to have to prepare for that. We will watch some videos tonight."

FIBA: The victory over the Austtralians was so comprehensive, what do you have to say to all those people
who now expect the United States to go all the way and capture gold?

Anthony: "I really think that if this team plays as it played against Australia we shouldn't have any problems to go all the way.
"We proved that when everybody plays together we are a difficult team to beat. If we keep playing the way we played there's no stopping us. The sky is the limit for us.
"However, we are taking it one day at a time, game by game
"Each game you play, and each win you take gives growing confidence and growing belief that it's possible."

FIBA: Carmelo, this is your first FIBA World Championship. How has the tournament been so far?

Anthony: "It's a lot of fun and I really can't wait to see the end result."

FIBA: What do you make of the Saitama Super Arena?

Anthony: "This arena is probably one of the best arenas I have seen in my life.We don't play in arenas like this so it's top notch."