The new-look Australian men's basketball team will today commence the final stretch in its Olympic Games preparations with its opening match of the Diamond Ball tournament in Nanjing, China.

Australia's first match is against the host nation and their superstar centre Yao Ming.

Australia will also come up against Angola in the six-team tournament, before a final match on August 1 which will be determined by the results.

There are plenty of young faces in the Australian team, including Joe Ingles and Canberra's Patrick Mills, while the likes of Andrew Bogut, Brad Newley and David Barlow are still in the early stages of their professional careers.

Mills's rise has been the most impressive and the 19-year-old point guard is still pinching himself at the opportunity ahead of him in China.

''Two years ago I was at the AIS trying to work on my game,'' Mills said.

''You always think [making the Olympic Games] will be later in the future but it's here now and it's very exciting.'' AAP