LAS VEGAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The USA are going to be among the title contenders at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain with a star-studded roster that is going to play fast and above the rim.

The defending champions will be the favorites in Group C and one of the most exciting squads to watch.

The side will not have one of the best players in the sport, however, with Paul George having been lost for the tournament with a broken leg.

The Indiana Pacers ace suffered the injury in the USA Basketball Showcase in Las Vegas over the weekend while attempting to block a shot by James Harden.

The forward, who was on the verge of making his debut for the Americans in Bilbao, has been operated on and will now concentrate on his recovery and the upcoming NBA campaign.

"This is a very tough blow, not so much about us, but about Paul," said USA Basketball national team managing director Jerry Colangelo.

"It's a first for us in USA Basketball to have something like this take place.

"It's a tough situation for our entire organization, our coaches, our players, very, very emotional."

USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and Colangelo spoke to the players after the Showcase, an intrasquad game that stopped after George's injury and did not resume.

Krzyzewski described what the atmosphere was like.

"A very emotional setting," he said. "There's a brotherhood in the NBA and to me, in moments like this, a family or a brotherhood shows its heart.

"It shows its depth. I thought that's what our players showed during that time."

George's mother and father attended the game and were by their son's side after the injury.

In 25 days, the USA will start their Group C campaign against Finland and go on to face the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Turkey and Ukraine.

They will no doubt do so with the extra incentive of trying to win for George.

"This is a tough blow for not only USA Basketball,” Colangelo said, "but for the Indiana Pacers.

"And so as an organization we're just going to let a little bit of time go by here before we address anything like rosters and all of that stuff.

"It seems so unimportant in the big scheme of things.

"When you have something like this take place, it puts things in perspective."

FIBA