Rio de Janeiro: American men's and women's basketball teams are staying on the cruise ship Silver Cloud at the Rio Olympics, a major step up from their fellow Olympians in the athletes village. The US men's collection of millionaire NBA stars arrived by plane on Wednesday, getting a good look at the famed Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking the Olympic host city. "It was so dark and then it was lit up," said US star Kevin Durant.

"It was like Jesus was flying over us. I want to go back and see it up close." Then they checked into luxury accomodations on a 196-cabin cruise ship similar to one used by the US team in 2004 at Athens. "It's pretty cool," said Durant. "We're in a hotel on water." US guard Klay Thompson, whom Durant will play alongside next season at Golden State as well as for the next two weeks, likes the balcony views. "It's nice. It's like staying at a hotel," Thompson said.