China meet the United States today in what is likely to be one of the most watched basketball games in history.

The clash between Yao Ming, the 2.29m Chinese giant who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association and US stars Kobe Bryant, who plays for rival American team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been much anticipated.

The 18,000 sell-out crowd at the Wukesong Indoor Arena will include President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and US President George W. Bush.

Yao, a center with the Rockets, knows his squad is likely to find America a very difficult opponent but says it will be a great occasion for the Chinese players.

"There won't be many opportunities to play an American all-star team. I have been waiting for this moment for such a long time," he said.

"We're clearly not at the same level as the American team but we won't give up the chance to play against the best players in the world. It won't be easy but it will be an honor and a precious memory, one that will last a lifetime."

Bryant, a guard in the US team, says it will be an experience for him playing against Asia's first NBA star on his home soil. "Yao has been great for basketball in China," Bryant said. "People have seized on that. It continues to globalize the game."

China does not have a strong track record against the US. Since their first Olympic showdown in 1984, when American college players crushed China 97-48 at the Los Angeles Games, China has never been close to beating the US -- it lost by 49 points in Soeul in 1988, 63 points in Atlanta in 1996 and 47 points in the Sydney 2000 Games.

China has fared slightly better at the World Championships, but only very slightly, losing by only 19 points in Indianapolis in 2002 and then by 31 points in Japan in 2006.

(China Daily: 2008-08-10 14:31)