Luka Doncic is backing a project led by former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson to bring an NBA Europe franchise to Rome, while reports linking Dirk Nowitzki to the investor group were later denied by his representatives.
Rome is expected to be home to one of the 12 permanent franchises in the upcoming NBA Europe project.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
MIN: 35.53
PTS: 32.83 (57.51%)
REB: 7.83
AS: 8.55
ST: 1.45
BL: 0.45
TO: 4.26
GM: 42
However, the Italian capital currently lacks a top-tier basketball club. To address this, an ownership group led by former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson is working to revive elite basketball in Rome.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the group plans to acquire the sporting rights of Vanoli Basket Cremona and launch a new club in the Italian League starting with the 2026-27 season.
That team would then serve as the foundation for Rome's entry into the new NBA Europe competition.
The same report states that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is backing the project.
Italy borders Luka's native Slovenia, and Nelson has served as a special advisor to the Slovenian national team since last summer.
Doncic, 26 – who was acquired by Nelson in a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018 – is part of the investor group, as confirmed by The Athletic.
Both La Gazzetta dello Sport and The Athletic also mentioned Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki as a potential investor. However, Nowitzki's spokesman, Scott Tomlin, told Marc Stein that Dirk is not part of the group.
The reported ownership group also includes longtime Mavericks scout Roberto Carmenati and former Wolves Vilnius president Rimantas Kaukenas. Kaukenas spent ten seasons playing in Italy, winning five league titles with Montepaschi Siena.
NBA Europe is expected to launch as a 16-team league, featuring 12 permanent franchises, with its debut projected for the 2027-28 season.
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