Luka Dončić Acquires Italian Basketball Club to Anchor Future NBA Europe Expansion
Rome, Sunday, 31 May 2026.
NBA star Luka Dončić has acquired an Italian basketball club, relocating it to Rome to secure a lucrative founding franchise spot in the upcoming 2027 NBA Europe expansion.
A Strategic Play for European Hardwood
On May 28, 2026, an investment group featuring NBA star Luka Dončić and former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson officially finalized the acquisition of the Italian Serie A basketball club Vanoli Cremona [1][4]. The financial groundwork for the deal began earlier in the month on May 12, when Dončić entered advanced negotiations to secure a 60 percent majority stake in the franchise for €8.5 million [4]. Based on this initial investment, the implied total valuation of the club stands at 14.167 million euros [4]. With the legal transfer of the club’s sporting license complete, the ownership syndicate is relocating the team to Rome in time for the 2026-27 Lega Basket Serie A season, which tips off in October 2026 [2][4]. The Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) officially approved this relocation on May 29, 2026, clearing the way for the newly relocated franchise to host its home games at Rome’s Palazzo dello Sport [2][4].
The NBA Europe Expansion Blueprint
The broader financial incentive behind the Rome relocation is explicitly tied to the National Basketball Association’s aggressive international monetization strategy [GPT]. The ownership group is positioning the Rome-based franchise to submit a bid as a founding member of “NBA Europe,” a proposed international league operating in partnership with FIBA [1][5]. Expected to launch as soon as the fall of 2027, the trans-Atlantic venture is heavily backed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who has established a target of at least 12 teams for the inaugural season, with the structural capacity to expand to 16 franchises [5]. Target markets for the league’s initial footprint include major economic hubs such as Rome, Milan, London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, and Istanbul [1].
Assembling a Veteran Front Office
To navigate the complex European basketball landscape, Dončić has surrounded his capital investment with a highly experienced front office [GPT]. The 63-year-old Donnie Nelson, who famously scouted and acquired Dončić for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2018 NBA Draft, serves as the managing partner of the syndicate [5]. The management team also includes former Mavericks international scout Roberto Carmenati and 82-year-old Valerio Bianchini, a legendary coach who previously secured three Italian league championships with three different clubs [2][5]. Furthermore, former Wolves Vilnius president Rimantas Kaukenas, who boasts five Italian league titles from his playing days, brings vital regional expertise to the boardroom [2][5].