Doncic Group Buys Vanoli Cremona, Eyes Rome Move for 1 NBA Europe Bid
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 29
Doncic Group Buys Vanoli Cremona, Eyes Rome Move for 1 NBA Europe Bid
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 29
Luka Doncic and former Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson now lead the group that bought Vanoli Cremona and filed to make the club Rome’s entry in the NBA’s planned European league.
Rome is central to the bid because the NBA wants teams in major cities including London, Paris, Rome and Milan, with an inaugural season targeted in 1 to 2 years.
Doncic, 27, said owning a European team had long been a personal goal after growing up in Slovenia and playing as a teenager for Real Madrid.
The deal ties one of the NBA’s biggest current stars directly to the league’s wider push beyond the United States, giving the Europe project a high-profile backer.
As stars like Luka Doncic become owners, how will the NBA prevent major conflicts of interest on and off the court?
With franchise fees up to $1 billion, is NBA Europe a global sports venture or a cash grab for US team owners?
NBA Europe Expansion: Dončić and Nelson Relocate Vanoli Cremona to Rome as League Eyes 2027 Launch
Overview
Former Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson and NBA star Luka Dončić, along with experienced basketball figures like Roberto Carmenati and Rimantas Kaukenas, have acquired Vanoli Basket Cremona, including its Serie A license. Their main goal is to relocate the team to Rome, filling a gap in the city’s top-level basketball scene and laying the groundwork for NBA Europe’s expansion. This move is part of a larger vision to bring high-level professional basketball to major European capitals, leveraging both local expertise and international star power to reshape the future of European basketball.