As the USA emerged, everyone in the sold-out Manchester Arena turned to their end of the court; camera phones flashed and messages were tweeted, recording the moment £160million worth of wage packets loped out in front of them.
Since the 1936 Olympics, the USA's men have won 13 gold medals in 16 attempts, losing only five of 127 games.
Great Britain, meanwhile, have not fielded an Olympic basketball team since 1948.
Lionel Price, 85, Britain's only surviving basketball Olympian, was present looking, understandably, a little bewildered. He was given a bus pass to get to Harringay Arena 64 years ago.
The USA may have won this exhibition match comfortably but, as all parties kept saying beforehand, it was certainly a 'big deal'.
British basketball started from nothing only five years ago, but last night hosted the defending Olympic champions just days before a home Olympics. That is a big deal.
Some of Britain's own famous sporting names, including Joleon Lescott, Fabr ice Muamba, Darren Fletcher and Amir Khan, were court-side.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2176217
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