Luka Dončić and Donnie Nelson Acquire Italian Club Vanoli Cremona, Plan Relocation to Rome

Luka Dončić and former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson purchased the Italian basketball club Vanoli Cremona on Friday. The ownership group will relocate the team to Rome, where it will begin play at the start of the 2026-27 season. Donnie Nelson serves as the lead investor and managing partner.

The group also includes longtime coach Valerio Bianchini and former player Rimantas Kaukėnas. The transaction includes a bid for the relocated team to represent Rome in the NBA Europe league. "I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time, to finally have this happen is amazing," Dončić said in a statement.

"Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. " NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced earlier in 2026 that the NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is working on the NBA Europe league. The league could launch as soon as the fall of 2027 and is expected to have up to 16 teams, with 12 permanent locations and four qualifying clubs.

Rome is listed among target host cities that also include London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Munich, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Athens, and Istanbul. Dončić played professionally for Real Madrid in Spain before entering the NBA. "Rome deserves world-class basketball, and we are excited to be bringing it back," Nelson said in a statement.

"Vanoli Cremona has a proud history, and we are committed to honoring that legacy as we build toward an exciting future in Rome. This city has been without top-flight basketball for too long. " Nelson was president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks when the team traded for Dončić on draft night in 2018.