Japan Embracing U.S. Basketball Team

USAs Dwyane Wade leaps in the air after thorwing a pass as Australia's David Barlow guards during a game at the World Basketball Championships in Saitama, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye) (Itsuo Inouye - AP)

SAITAMA, Japan -- As the United States was rolling through play in the world championships, Dwyane Wade couldn't help but notice that something seemed missing.

"No booing," he said.

The absence of those ugly sounds was a welcome change for Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who listened to them on a nightly basis while playing for an unpopular U.S. Olympic team two years ago.

"We heard some real foul stuff back in 2004," Anthony said.

But it's been almost entirely cheers this time for the Americans, who headed into their quarterfinal matchup with Germany on Wednesday night as perhaps the biggest tournament favorites, both on and off the court.

In their first game here on Sunday, the Americans were cheered on by a crowd that included one fan from the Philippines who was wearing a James Cleveland Cavaliers jersey and holding a sign that asked Wade for marriage.

"You go out on the court and you see all the fans chanting 'USA,'" James said, "and they're not from the USA."

Terrorism fears following 9/11 kept many American fans _ not to mention some NBA players who were supposed to suit up for the U.S. _ from traveling to Athens. With little support from their own fans and declining U.S. popularity around the world because of the war in Iraq, the Americans felt like they were playing road games most of the time.

It was obvious how much things had changed starting in Sapporo, where the Americans closed group play amid chants for Wade, who sat out that game because the result was meaningless.

"We weren't even expecting any cheers coming out here," Wade said. "It was a surprise to us, it was a great surprise, that we could come out here and gain some fans."

Actually, James had a feeling they were coming.

As the NBA and its partners have found a thriving market in Asia, some players had already established a presence and recognition in the Far East. Posters and ads featuring James, Elton Brand and Kobe Bryant _ who isn't playing but is in Asia helping conduct clinics and is expected here for the gold medal game _ greet passengers getting off the subway stop in front of the Saitama Super Arena.