But Bogut, an NBA star in his own right, refuses to be intimidated by the Americans.

And why would he?

The 31-year-old is one of four members of the Australian team to have won an NBA Championship.

The Boomers are set to start Wednesday’s pool game with five NBA players and have beaten France and Serbia to start their Olympic campaign undefeated.   

“It’s the ultimate test,” Bogut told Fox Sports.

“They are the best team in the world so if we go out there and try to get our shoes signed by them, we have got the wrong mindset.

“I’ve been in teams in the past where guys have asked for shoes before games so you never know.

“They’ve lost games in the past but obviously they’re favourites. If you put a million dollars on them, you probably get a dollar back. It’s a great challenge for us.”

Australia have made the quarter-finals at the past two Olympic Games, but this time feels different.

And the Americans are beatable, highlighted in the fact they have not won a world cup since 2006, although they are the defending Olympic champions.

Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis said his team was filled with a belief rarely seen.  

“The beauty of our group is not one of our guys are intimidated by NBA players any more,’’ he said.

“We have got guys who have played with them and been their teammates and I know our guys will carry confidence into the game.

“As a group we always believed we could do something special at this tournament. And we know others will have their belief and scoff, which they will, but the thing that matters to us is what we believe.”