Luka Dončić Invests in Italian Basketball Team with NBA Europe Expansion in Sight
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Dončić is backing an investment group aiming to establish a franchise in Rome as part of the NBA’s ambitious new European league, NBA Europe. The group, spearheaded by former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson, has a preliminary agreement to purchase Vanoli Basket Cremona, a team currently competing in Italy’s top professional basketball league, Serie A.
Nelson, 63, the son of legendary NBA coach and executive Don Nelson, initiated the move to acquire a team with an existing Serie A license – a crucial requirement for participation in NBA Europe. The plan, according to sources, is to relocate the franchise to Rome, establishing a presence in a major European market currently without a top-division basketball team.
Dončić, 26, was originally acquired by Nelson in a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. His involvement signifies a personal investment in the league’s expansion and a belief in the potential of the European market. While reports initially suggested Dirk Nowitzki was also part of the investor group, a spokesman for Nowitzki stated that was not the case.
Lithuanian basketball legend Rimas Kaukenas, a longtime star in Italy, is also reportedly among the investors. Neither Dončić nor Nelson have publicly commented on the deal, and officials at Vanoli Basket have not responded to requests for comment.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has identified a dozen cities as potential license holders for NBA Europe, including Rome and Milan in Italy, as well as locations in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, and Turkey. The league is slated to launch in September 2027.
The cost of securing a license in NBA Europe is expected to be substantial, with estimates exceeding $1 billion for a team based in London. Rome, as a major and currently untapped market, is likely to attract significant investment. Representatives from several prominent investment firms, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, RedBird Capital, and Blackstone, were present at a conference held by Silver last month in London to discuss the league’s potential.
Dončić’s participation in the venture reflects his European roots. Born in Slovenia, he honed his skills in the Real Madrid basketball academy before being drafted into the NBA. His experience navigating the European basketball system aligns with Silver’s goal of fostering a stronger connection between the NBA and the continent’s talent pipeline.
This isn’t the first instance of current NBA stars investing in European sports franchises. Kevin Durant purchased a minority stake in Paris Saint-Germain, a major soccer club, in 2024, through Arctos, an investment firm. PSG is expected to field a team in NBA Europe.
Former NBA players Tony Parker, who owns ASVEL Basket near Lyon, and Pau Gasol, who is considering a leadership role, are also involved in the development of NBA Europe. While You’ll see currently no rules restricting current NBA players from owning stakes in NBA Europe teams, the league office is expected to work with the players’ union to establish ownership limits.
However, a stipulation has been established preventing owners of NBA Europe teams from holding more than a 5 percent stake in an NBA team in the United States or Canada. This measure is intended to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure fairness among NBA owners who may not have investments in the European league.
In addition to the 12 expected license holders, four additional spots in the annual NBA Europe competition will be available to teams that qualify through a tournament organized by FIBA, the international governing body for basketball. The FIBA Champions League winner will automatically secure one of those spots.
