Luka Doncic invests in an Italian team thinking about NBA Europe

Luka Dončić has teamed up with Donnie Nelson, former executive of the Dallas Mavericks, to boost basketball in Rome. Nelson, who was the president of basketball operations for the Mavericks when the team selected Dončić in the 2018 Draft, is the lead investor and managing partner of the group that acquired the Vanoli Cremona club in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A, as announced on Friday.

The ownership group, which also includes veteran coach Valerio Bianchini and former player Rimantas Kaukėnas, announced that the club will move to Rome as part of the operation and will start playing there from the 2026-27 season.

Furthermore, the group confirmed that they have submitted a bid for the team to represent Rome in the future NBA Europe.

“I have been dreaming of having a team in Europe for a long time, and seeing it finally come true is incredible,” Dončić stated in a press release. “Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an extraordinary group of partners, and I firmly believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe.”

Giant Steps for NBA Europe

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced earlier this year that the NBA, in collaboration with FIBA, is working on establishing NBA Europe, a competition that could start in the fall of 2027.

Rome is among the top candidate cities to host the league, which is expected to feature up to 16 teams: 12 permanent spots and four rotating clubs. Other cities under consideration include London and Manchester in England; Paris and Lyon in France; Munich and Berlin in Germany; Madrid and Barcelona in Spain; as well as Milan, Athens, and Istanbul.

Before becoming an NBA star, the Slovenian point guard played professionally in Spain with Real Madrid.

“Rome deserves top-level basketball, and we are delighted to bring it back to the city,” Nelson said in a statement. “Vanoli Cremona has a glorious history, and we are committed to honoring that legacy as we build a bright future in Rome. This city has been without elite basketball for too long. That changes now. We bring the resources, experience, and passion needed to make this club a source of pride for Rome and all of Italy.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Luka Doncic invierte en un equipo italiano pensando en la NBA Europa