The U.S. men's basketball team, concerned about security during the pre-Olympic tournament in Puerto Rico, may balk at staying at the Olympic village in Athens during the 2004 Summer Games.

The U.S. is undefeated in the tournament heading into Wednesday night's game against Mexico. The top three teams from the tourney qualify for the Athens Games, and the U.S. certainly will be one of those teams.

The U.S. squad features such stars as league MVP Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand.

"I'm seriously concerned about the comments that I have received from NBA players participating on the team,'' Billy Hunter, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, told Bloomberg News. "If this is any indication as to what life might be like next year in Athens, where the environment is much more volatile, we're not willing to have our players stay in the Olympic village. Their security is No. 1."

However, Stu Jackson, the NBA executive who chairs the USA Basketball committee that picks the players and coaches, says such a comparison is faulty.

"There doesn't seem to be a correlation between staying in a hotel for the qualifying tournament and the amount of security that will undoubtedly exist in the Olympic village in Greece," Jackson told Bloomberg.

"Arguably, the Olympic village will be the most secure venue in Greece during that time."

Other USA Basketball officials were not available for comment. U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel didn't immediate return a message left at his office by Bloomberg.

Among other things, the players are concerned that non-guests would be allowed in the hotel where they are staying, Brand told Bloomberg.

Last week Athens organizers discussed 2004 security, which has been mired in delays, much like most of the preparations that were stalled for two years because of bureaucracy and infighting. Athens plans to spend more than $600 million for security -- an Olympic priority that has assumed even greater urgency following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.