LAS VEGAS — The United States took a small first step on the march to Beijing today.

The Americans tried on their new uniforms, then went through a two-hour practice at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus.

"We just wanted to start putting our offense in and run shots and the speed at which we're trying to play, and let them interact," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "That's a big thing — understanding the magnitude of all this."

This was the first gathering of the 12-member squad since it was announced Monday. Four players — LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer — are holdovers from the 2004 Olympic team, which won the bronze medal.

This year's team has a loftier goal — America's 13th gold medal. Anything less will be an enormous disappointment for players who gave a three-year commitment to the national program.

"It's a brand-new start," said James, adding that the 2004 holdovers will wear different numbers than they did in Athens.

James, who wore No. 9, will wear No. 6 in Beijing; Wade swapped his No. 6 for No. 9; Boozer switched from No. 7 to No. 4; Anthony from No. 8 to No. 15.

Saturday's workout produced little news — and that was good news.

Center Dwight Howard missed practice as he continued to recover from what Krzyzewski described as a stress fracture in his sternum. But Howard is expected to be ready for next month's training camp.

"He's just precautionary," Krzyzewski said. "There's no need to do anything today. He's got three more weeks, so let's make sure he's healthy."

Said Howard, "I'll be fine for next month."

Wade said his surgically repaired left knee felt good.

"It's just getting my wind back, getting my conditioning back, getting my legs used to going up and down," Wade said. "But health wise I'm good. No restrictions. I'm good to go."

Kobe Bryant is still nursing a torn ligament in his right pinkie, which could require surgery after the Olympics. Bryant said his finger "still gets sore every once in a while. But it's been manageable to this point, and hopefully it'll stay that way."

USA Basketball officials had originally planned to choose the squad at this minicamp. But they selected the group earlier in the week, and what had been planned as a four-day camp was reduced to an orientation meeting and one practice.

"It was a good first day today, just get up and down the floor and pick up some of the rhythm that we left off last summer" in the FIBA Americas qualifier, Bryant said. "It was a good first step."

Bryant had little to say about a rap video by former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal, who rapped that "Kobe couldn't do without me."

Asked how he took the video, Bryant shook his head and said, "I didn't take it any kind of way whatsoever."

On Sunday, the squad flies to New York, where it will participate in a round of media events on Monday.

The team will reconvene here for training camp July 21, capping the week with an exhibition against Canada on July 25 at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center.

The squad then leaves for China, where it will play four more exhibitions before arriving in Beijing. The U.S. opens preliminary round play against host China on Aug. 10.