US basketball star Chris Paul expects Australia's Patty Mills to "get loose" and make a big impact at the London Olympics.

Mills had limited opportunities with his NBA club San Antonio this season but the star point guard looms as crucial to the Boomers' hopes of securing a medal in London.

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Paul, a member of the star-studded US Olympic team expected to win gold, paid tribute to Mills' performance in Beijing, where Australia were beaten by the US in the quarter-finals.

And he tipped Mills would have a big impact in London free from the shackles of club basketball.

"Patty wasn't in the NBA yet back in (Beijing) '08 and he did an unbelievable job then," Paul said as he and his US teammates arrived in Manchester ahead of a friendly match against Great Britain on Thursday.

"He is an even better player now and he's a different player with the national team than he is in the NBA.

"With the national team he gets to get loose, get going and be the player that he is."

Australia and the US are drawn in separate groups in London and Paul played down comparison between the current US team - featuring the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant - and the famous 'Dream Team' of 1992.