During the course of USA Basketball training camp, players will be checking in on a regular basis to give you the scoop on what's going on in Las Vegas and in the minds of the team as they prepare for the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

Joe Johnson | Antawn Jamison | Brad Miller | Chris Bosh

This morning was kind of low key. We have some great talent in this gym and the first practice went great. We went through a lot of drills – shooting, dribbling, passing, defensive drills. This evening we are going to get a chance to play against each other, so that will be intense and I’m looking forward to competing. That is how it is supposed to be. At this point, I’m more excited than anything.

Probably the most important thing is us just learning the international game and the rules. I’m not so sure we are going to have to make any big adjustments. I think we just have to play our game. We can’t be too worried about anything else. Just come out and play basketball the way it is supposed to be played. We can’t be nervous and jittery. If we play hard and smart, there is no way we should lose a game.

It is going to be great getting to know some of these guys off the court. I’m a fan of just about every guy out here even though I play against them. Just to get to sit down, talk to them and get to know them, that will be really great. I’ll no doubt cherish these moments.

And I will definitely cherish putting the USA uniform on. I want to be a part of it. Even if you don’t make the team, you are still going to be a part of it. But I want to be one of those guys to actually make it happen. This is a real prestigious thing right here, and I can’t wait to really get the intensity up.

Jamison knows how important this chance is. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

Pretty much since we got to Vegas and through our meetings last night and this morning, it has been made clear to us the importance of putting this group together and what it means to not only the NBA, the organizations and the fans, but to our country. We understand that this is a very important opportunity for all of us and we're all fighting for that position on the team. So far, Coach K and his staff have been phenomenal in terms of expressing what they want out of us offensively and defensively, and I think that the group of guys selected will seize the opportunity.

Everyone here is very antsy and ready to get out and get going. We've known about this team since about midseason, but probably a week ago, we started to understand the importance of what was ahead of us with guys really trying to get in shape over the last month. It's been nice so far to have Gilbert here with me. Me and Gil, we see each other just about every day during the season, and now hopefully we'll be seeing each other for the rest of the summer. It's always good to have somebody you are accustomed to. We all have guys we deal with that we're good friends with on other teams, but to have somebody you are so familiar with, not only as a basketball player but as a person, it makes the whole thing smoother. He was up in my room last night, and I was in his room this morning before we went and got breakfast. So it is good to have somebody you can get away with and talk about certain things you probably wouldn't talk about with these other guys. We're all competing for different spots so it is a good opportunity and we're both enjoying it and having fun with it also.

You can tell guys were ready to go at it this morning. We were all definitely paying attention from start to finish. Coach K communicated to us that offensively we want to move the ball, be unselfish, and give everybody the opportunity to score. Defensively we have to be better than in 2004. We want to make it tough for our opponents. We're playing by international rules now, so we have to do a great job of picking it up quickly and applying our athletic talents and our abilities to that style of play. Defensively we will be going at it. There is no excuse for not being where you are supposed to be on the floor. All five guys on the court need to talk and we need whomever is coming off the bench or the guys on the court to bring energy. Coach really wants guys to show enthusiasm and just go out there and have fun.

Coach is as sharp as they come. He knows the game and he articulates things where you definitely understand it the first time he says it. You can see why he is one of the best, not only in college basketball, but as one of the best coaches at any level of basketball. It is just a great opportunity to play for him. From being a motivational speaker to letting you know what he expects out of you and being intense and being focused, the guy is top notch.

It's very important for me to make this team. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, having the opportunity to not only represent my family, my friends, and my teammates, but my country. Next to the world championship, this is the most important thing affiliated with basketball, not only to win the world championship, but the gold medal. To have this opportunity to put on the USA jersey and say I represented my country would be my biggest accomplishment and hopefully it comes through. I am going to do everything possible to make it happen.

I was honored to get a chance to be a part of something special. This is obviously a different concept than what the teams have been since '92. There's never been anything where we've tried to assemble a team for the World Championships and then follow through to the Olympics. So, to be a part of it is a real honor.

The collection of players that we have out here is pretty unbelievable. Everybody's in the right frame of mind in knowing what we've got to do as far as playing together.

To have a chance to play for Coach K is great. In the meeting last night, he was telling a funny story and then it ties right into a big motivational speech. It's neat to see how much of a motivator he is. Listening to him for the first time, after 10 minutes, it was like "Man, I can't wait to play for this guy."

You compete and do the best you can, but obviously you've got to make some cuts somewhere. They're definitely just trying to stay in the team concept, so we're not trying to press too hard, but just really fit in and pick up the concepts that they're putting in.

I played overseas in '98 and this will be my fourth time playing for USA Basketball in different events, so I feel like I have a decent feel for the international game and understand some of the rule changes. There's still a bunch of things that you have to remember and get used to again, because the little things make a difference. That's just something that you've got to adjust to.

The most important thing for us will be to just play together, play as hard as we can and share the ball.

Bosh and Team USA want to force tempo. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

I haven't been around professionals in an atmosphere like this before, but it's very positive. Everybody's really looking forward to playing, working together and proving to the world that USA Basketball is still the best in the world. I think the coaching staff, by far, is very intense and ready to win. Not only win, but play together. That will be the main focus. Everybody feels that if we play together, we'll be tough to beat.

Last night, we pretty much just talked about the differences of international basketball and the mindset that we need to have going into the World Championships. We talked about the stereotype that we're facing going into this competition. Everybody's putting the past behind us, because the past four years haven't been as good as what was expected for USA Basketball. Everyone's really excited and eager to put away those doubts.

The first practice was pretty much just putting things in, learning the system that they want us to play and the different styles of defenses. We're trying to get rid of the NBA habits we have and not being afraid to step in the lane, play help defense, camp out in the lane and clog it up. The offense is pretty much what it is. They just want us to spread the floor and play.

We want to push the ball and try to get easy baskets first. If we don't have anything, then we'll play in the halfcourt. But if we don't have to face a zone by running, the coaches want us to do that.

I've been looking forward to this since I was invited. The time is finally here. I want to just make sure that I play to the best of my capabilities and display my talents so that I can make this team and win a gold medal.

The realization of it all is that somebody has to go home. Somebody is not going to make it. There are great big guys here. Of course, we're a team, but in the end, you have to compete. Just like during the season ... you may be teammates with somebody, but one of you has to start and one has to play less minutes.

It's very special to me. I've been watching USA Basketball for a long time and to finally be a part of it, I don't want to waste this opportunity. I just want to make sure I make the team first and then I'll really treat it special. Right now, I'm just in the mindframe that I have to make it.