Luka Doncic Becomes Owner of Rome Team for NBA Europe

After months of speculation during the regular season, Lakers point guard Luka Doncic has officially confirmed his involvement in the NBA Europe project for the team set to emerge in Rome. The anticipated news was made official through a post on his Instagram account, announcing his participation in the Italian capital's club. This move appears to challenge the prospect of a team also forming in Milan, where Italian basketball traditionally enjoys greater success and presence.

The Roman team, which has acquired the rights to Vanoli Cremona and will relocate it from Cremona to the Eternal City, will be led by an investment group. In addition to Doncic, this group includes Donnie Nelson, former coach, scout, director, and son of Don Nelson – who will head the group – legendary Italian coach Valerio Bianchini, and former player Rimas Kaukenas. Donnie Nelson himself confirmed the management structure in an interview with the newspaper Corriere della Sera.

"We want to awaken the Capital; no decision will be made without Doncic," Nelson assured, emphasizing the 27-year-old Slovenian's importance to the project. Doncic is a six-time All-Star and has been named to the All-NBA First Team six times. "The goal is to be an extension of the fans. Luka is excited and will be in Rome soon," he added.

Donnie Nelson is a renowned figure in basketball, known for his pioneering vision in recruiting European talent during his 24 years as an executive with the Dallas Mavericks. He was instrumental in discovering players like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Luka Doncic himself, after Doncic was the 3rd pick in the 2018 draft by the Hawks, only to be immediately traded for Trae Young, who was the 5th pick by the Texans.

The NBA Europe project, which has been under development for some time, anticipates the launch of its inaugural championship in the 2027/28 season. The coaching reins of the Rome team will be handed to Serbian Sasha Djordjevic, who has previously managed teams such as Milano and Virtus Bologna.

The team is expected to begin competing in the Lega Basket Serie A as early as the 2026/27 season. The ownership group has already moved past the discussion phase and formally submitted an application to become Rome's representative in NBA Europe.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luka Doncic also addressed the discussions surrounding NBA Europe, expressing his desire for the NBA and EuroLeague to find a way to collaborate rather than compete. "For me, the best outcome is for them to find a way to work together. I spent years in the EuroLeague before coming to the NBA, and those years shaped every part of my game. So, I hope the collaboration works well for both sides," began the former Real Madrid player, who won the EuroLeague in 2017/18, earning MVP honors for both the season and the Final Four.

Doncic was keen to emphasize that his role in the project for the team now based in Rome extends far beyond a mere financial investment. The objective, according to him, is to build a competitive club that becomes significant for the city. "For me, this isn't just an investment. I want to build a club that can compete at the highest level and mean something to this city. Rome deserves the best, and we are ready to give it to them."

"Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have a fantastic group of partners, and I truly believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe," reinforced the Slovenian point guard, who won EuroBasket 2017.

The Lakers point guard also sought to justify his personal connection to the Italian capital, mentioning a youth tournament he played there as a teenager while still with Olimpija Ljubljana, an experience he considers a milestone at the beginning of his career. "Rome is a special place for me. I played a tournament there when I was 13. It was one of the first times, with my Olimpija Ljubljana team, that I played at a high level in front of a crowd outside of Slovenia. After that experience, my career really started to take off. To return now, in this role, is something I never could have imagined at that age. It feels like a full circle moment."

Donnie Nelson expressed shared enthusiasm, believing the project can restore Rome's prestige in the sport. "Rome deserves world-class basketball, and we are excited to bring it back," he declared. "This city has been too long without top-level basketball. That changes now."

While not revealing details about the roster, the coaching staff – which is now known to be Sasha Djordjevic – or the budget, Luka Magic promised upcoming news and emphasized the new club's ambition from the outset. "There will be news soon, and I don't want to reveal too much yet. But I can tell you that we are going to build something that the whole city can support. We are going to Rome to win."

Reactions to Doncic's confirmation as an investor in Vanoli Cremona have been widespread, with one notable endorsement coming from Jeanie Buss, now a minority owner of the Lakers, but still the governor of the LA team where Luka is the biggest star alongside LeBron James.

Jeanie Buss reacted via social media with a short message: "I love this!"

When NBA Europe launches in 2026/27, the league, in association with FIBA, expects to feature 16 clubs, 12 of which will have permanent status. In addition to Rome, cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Berlin, London, and Manchester are among the most desired locations for the new European league.