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)

James has spent part of the last two summers in Asia making promotional appearances for Nike, with stops last year in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Beijing. His shoe marketed only in China sold out in two hours. More tours this year when the Americans had training stints before arriving in Japan convinced him that the crowd was going to be on the U.S. side _ even if he didn't let his teammates know it.

"I was here last summer, so I kind of knew what to expect," James said. "So I was kind of just prepping the guys, letting them know, 'Well, it's not going to be that good.' Then when they got here it was all crazy, so it's been everything I've expected and more."

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski attributed his team's popularity to the way his players have acted. More likely, it has to do with the way they play.

"Japanese people are fascinated with strong teams," said Masa Oshima, a Tokyo resident who is working as a media conference interpreter for FIBA. "If it was a major league All-Star team, the same thing would be happening. But if it was the American soccer team, they wouldn't think twice. They would rather follow England and David Beckham.

"They pretty much just want to see a good show, lots of dunks and stuff."

The Americans quickly seized on that, with James and Dwight Howard frequently drawing roars after their dunks _ and that's during pregame warmups.

"Playing overseas, the crowd is a little different than NBA crowds, so just try to get them going," Howard said. "Get the crowd into it early, that way when the game comes they'll be so hyped because they saw us doing all those dunks that they'll want to see them in the game."

By doing so, the Americans have been rewarded with the type of crowd response they got when NBA players first were used in international tournaments. Even when they played an exhibition here against Japan before the 2000 Olympics, Oshima said the Americans received just as much support as the home team.

That had all changed by the time the three U.S. captains arrived in Athens four years later. This time, the Americans sent a better team _ and they're finding that their hosts love it.

"The fans are great and they love the game of basketball," James said. "You don't understand how big it is until you get over (here)."