Luka Dončić, backed by NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, is leading an investor group aiming to bring an NBA team to Rome as part of NBA Europe, according to sources. The group, headed by Donnie Nelson, former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, has a preliminary agreement to purchase Vanoli Basket Cremona, a basketball team from northern Italy. This move could potentially lead to the establishment of a new franchise in Rome, approximately 330 miles away, as part of NBA Europe, which NBA commissioner Adam Silver hopes to launch in September 2027.
Dončić, 26, who was acquired by Nelson in a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018, is part of the investor group. Sources in American and European basketball confirm Nelson's plans, and the Milan-based sports publication La Gazzetta Dello Sport reported that Nowitzki is also involved. Rimas Kaukenas, a Lithuanian legend who played in Italy for a long time, is also a part of the group, according to one source.
The purchase of Vanoli Basket is primarily for its Liga license, which is crucial for any team competing in NBA Europe, as teams must also play in a domestic league. The group aims to establish a new franchise in Rome, but Serie A rules require a two-year wait before changing the franchise's name, among other requirements, according to an Italian basketball source.
The NBA has identified several cities for licensed teams in NBA Europe, including Rome and Milan in Italy, London and Manchester in the UK, Paris and Lyon in France, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, Berlin and Munich in Germany, and Athens and Istanbul. The buy-in for licenses is expected to be substantial, with Silver seeking over $1 billion for a team in London. Rome, being a massive and untapped market, suggests that Nelson and Dončić have deep-pocketed partners.
When Silver held a conference for potential participants in NBA Europe in London, representatives from prominent investment firms and banks were present, indicating the high interest in the league. Dončić, born in Slovenia, played in Real Madrid's basketball academy as a teenager and was eventually drafted by the Mavericks in 2018. Nowitzki, 47, from Germany, also played professionally in his country before joining the NBA in 1998.
Among the known participants, Kevin Durant, an NBA star, has invested in Paris Saint-Germain, a soccer giant, through Arctos, an American firm. Tony Parker, a former NBA star, owns ASVEL Basket, a team near Lyon expected to join NBA Europe. Pau Gasol, another former star, is considering a leadership role in the new league.
While there are no rules for ownership stakes in NBA Europe for current players, the NBA's office is finalizing rules, and the players' union will likely be involved in determining ownership limits. However, NBA owners cannot own more than 5% of an NBA team in the U.S. or Canada, as all NBA owners will be stakeholders in the European league, and majority ownership would create conflicts of interest.
NBA Europe will have 12 licensed teams competing annually, with four spots available for qualification by any pro team in Europe. The annual competition will include the champion of FIBA's Champions League and a qualifying tournament for the highest-performing teams in various domestic leagues, with competitions expected to take place in June 2027.
