OKINAWA, Japan (AFP) — Slovenia's Luka Doncic and France's Rudy Gobert will be among the National Basketball Association's international stars trying to stop the United States from regaining the Basketball World Cup when the event begins on Friday in Asia.

A young US start the 32-team competition, which is being co-hosted by the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan, as favorites to lift the Naismith Trophy for the first time since 2014.

Spain, which beat Argentina in the final four years ago in China, when the Americans failed to make the podium, have the experienced Rudy Fernandez to lead their title defense.

But fellow veteran Ricky Rubio will be missing after announcing a break from the NBA to "take care of my mental health."

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is in charge of the USA squad for the first time, after assisting Gregg Popovich at the 2019 World Cup in China and in Tokyo two years later, where they won Olympic gold.

Kerr has picked an up-and-coming group of players to gain redemption for four years ago when the USA slumped to seventh in their defense of back-to-back world titles.

His squad is headlined by NBA All-Stars Anthony "Ant-Man" Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Brandon Ingram, Jaren Jackson and the Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero, the 2023 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Edwards has been impressive in warm-up games — his 34 points on Sunday inspiring the US to a 99-91 comeback victory against Germany in Abu Dhabi.

"He is unquestionably 'the guy'," Kerr said of the 22-year-old Edwards.

"He knows it, but now the team knows it."

No American on the roster has previous World Cup or Olympic experience, but Kerr believes that with hungry players like Edwards, they can challenge for the title.