Being made odds-on favourites to win gold at the World Championship has cut little ice with a business-like United States.

The US take on Puerto Rico in their opening Group D game today and bookmakers are convinced the team will end an embarrassing six-year title drought in Japan.

But the players were playing down the hype yesterday.

"We don't worry ourselves about book-keeping or gambling," team co-captain LeBron James told Reuters.

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and we're far away from Vegas now."

Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were also named co-captains with James by US coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose team are looking to win their first major title since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The trio tasted defeat at the 2004 Athens Games, where the Americans finished third.

Wade believes Krzyzewski's team are better than the Athens Olympic squad led by Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan.

"What this team has that Athens didn't is togetherness," he said. "We know we can't break apart when things start to go bad."

The US also face Olympic silver medallists Italy, China, Slovenia and Senegal in the first round before the knockout stage on August 26.

¤ France have suffered a major blow to their world basketball championship hopes after NBA All Star Tony Parker was ruled out of the tournament yesterday with a freak injury. The San Antonio guard broke a finger on his right hand after catching it on an opponent's jersey in France's final tune-up game against Brazil on Tuesday. Parker had been expected to miss the team's opener against Olympic champions Argentina in Sendai today, but X-rays revealed the injury was more serious than feared. The French are in Group A alongside Argentina, Lebanon, Nigeria, Venezuela and defending champions Serbia.