• Luka Dončić is part of an investor group led by former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson exploring the purchase of Vanoli Basket Cremona.
  • The group would use Cremona’s Serie A license to establish a new franchise in Rome and target inclusion in Adam Silver’s NBA Europe, planned for Sept. 2027.
  • Reports that Dirk Nowitzki was involved were denied by his spokesman; Lithuanian legend Rimas Kaukenas is said to be a partner.
  • NBA Europe buy-ins are expected to be large; league rules and ownership limits are still being finalized.

H2: What the purchase would involve

A group led by Donnie Nelson aims to buy Vanoli Basket Cremona, a license holder in Italy’s top domestic league, Serie A. The plan, according to people familiar with the discussions, is to acquire the club primarily for its domestic license and then relocate the franchise roughly 330 miles south to Rome.

Nelson’s group reportedly includes Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić. Another name linked by some reports, Dirk Nowitzki, was denied as a participant by his spokesman. Lithuanian former player Rimas Kaukenas is also said to be part of the investor mix.

H3: Why Rome and how this ties to NBA Europe

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has identified a set of European cities for licensed teams in the proposed NBA Europe competition: Rome and Milan in Italy among them. With no top-division professional team currently based in Rome, backers say the city presents a large, untapped market.

The new competition is being pitched to start in September 2027. Teams in NBA Europe would still compete in their national leagues; acquiring a Serie A license is a practical step toward meeting that requirement.

H4: Cost, timeline and partners

Buy-ins for NBA Europe franchises are expected to be substantial — previous reporting suggested price tags north of $1 billion for prime cities like London. The NBA has held investor conferences and engaged major financial firms to court backers.

Sources say Nelson and Dončić would likely have deep-pocketed partners. Representatives from global funds and sovereign investors have already shown interest in NBA Europe at recent meetings.

H3: Rules on ownership and player involvement

The NBA has not finalized all rules for ownership stakes in NBA Europe. League officials have indicated limits to avoid conflicts of interest: for example, owners of NBA Europe teams would be restricted in how much they could simultaneously own of NBA teams in the U.S. and Canada.

There is no formal ban reported on current players owning stakes, but the league would need to consult the players’ union on any policy. High-profile athletes and former stars have shown interest in Europe-based ownership: Kevin Durant has invested in Paris Saint-Germain, Tony Parker owns ASVEL, and Pau Gasol has been linked to possible leadership roles.

H2: What comes next

If a sale of Vanoli Basket moves forward, Italian league rules may require a waiting period before a relocated team can change its name or branding. The effort remains subject to negotiation, league approvals and financial commitments.

For now, the Dončić-Nelson plan adds momentum to the NBA’s evolving push to create a European club competition and to fold prominent European basketball figures into its ownership landscape.

Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7037888/2026/02/10/nba-europe-luka-doncic-donnie-nelson-italy/