Fun and Then Games for U.S. Team : Basketball: Olympians arrive in Monte Carlo for a little practice between stops at the golf course and the casino.

Prince Rainier comes to practice today.

Needing a place to train, the Dream Team chose this bastion of scenic grandeur, gaming and wealth appropriate to a roster with a $3.5-million average salary. A year after USA Basketball made its controversial pullout from the Pan American Games in Havana, choosing to billet the Pan-Am team in Miami Beach, the U.S. Olympians work out amid splendor that makes Beverly Hills look like Dogpatch.

“Just like being on spring break in the ghetto,” Charles Barkley said.

His Royal Highness and 200 friends are scheduled to watch today’s practice. There will be a royal reception today, an exhibition against France Tuesday and practices Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the team flies to Barcelona for Sunday’s long-awaited opener against Angola.

Aside from that, players are free to hit the golf courses and casinos or in other words, everything Michael Jordan might be doing in an ordinary summer.

“Well, if you have choices, this isn’t bad,” said Chuck Daly, U.S. coach and leisure activities coordinator.

“We came over last year. They suggested Montpelier (a small resort town on the French Riviera where the U.S. women are training). We came over here and looked at the hotel and the gym and it looked like kind of an idyllic place to spend a training camp.

“Early on, you’ve got to understand, we weren’t sure any of these people would be interested in coming. So you wanted to make it as attractive as possible.

“You can go and make it a basic Marine training camp, but I don’t think that’s the idea. We can get done here what needs to get done ‘cause these guys are so professional.”

Nor will curfews slow anyone.

“No curfews because then I’d have to adhere to it and Jimmy Z’s (a nearby $40-a-beer disco) doesn’t open ‘til about midnight,” Daly said, laughing. “Barkley and I got to go out. I told (trainer) Ed Lacerte, ‘Put him on the scale.’ ”

The Americans arrived early Sunday morning, slept fitfully and briefly, and staggered groggily through their first practice. Daly let them out after one hour.

“We’re all dragging today,” Magic Johnson said. “But we knew that after flying all day yesterday, getting in at 12 and getting to our hotel at 1. Our bags didn’t come up to our rooms until three.”

Most players brought their families with them. Cookie Johnson remains in Los Angeles with the couple’s newborn son but will join her husband in Barcelona.

“I brought my tux because I’ve always dreamed of dressing up and going to the casino,” Johnson said. “Only thing about it, my wife was upset because that was both of our dreams. I get to live it. So she made me promise that I had to bring her back next year.”

Daly said he was pleased with the first practice. The team bused back to its swank seaside hotel, which cut its $360-a-night rate in half to land the business. As camps go, it was already everyone’s favorite.

Basketball Notes

Larry Bird, who played 23 minutes in six games during the Tournament of the Americas because of back trouble, didn’t practice Sunday but shot on the sideline. “I just want to get to Barcelona healthy,” he said. . . . John Stockton, limping on the hairline fracture of his right fibula, didn’t practice but worked out on a stationary bicycle. He is expected to practice Friday.