Rome's New NBA Ambition
Luka Doni and former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson have completed the purchase of Italy’s Vanoli Cremona, with plans to relocate the club to Rome and establish it as the flagship franchise for the NBA’s ambitious Europe expansion.
The ownership consortium, which also includes coach Valerio Bianchini and former player Rimantas Kauknas, announced that the team will begin competing in the capital under the name Vanoli Roma for the 2026‑27 season, aiming to honor the club’s storied past while charting a new future.
Central to the venture is the hope of establishing Rome as one of the anchor host cities for the NBA Europe league, a competition being developed in partnership with FIBA that could debut as early as the fall of 2027.
While Rome is the primary candidate, the league has also earmarked other European hubs such as London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Berlin, Athens, Istanbul, Madrid and Barcelona as potential venues, reflecting a broad ambition to grow the sport across the continent.
Doni, who previously showcased his talents with Real Madrid in Spain, expressed excitement about the prospect of bringing world‑class basketball back to Rome, emphasizing the group’s commitment to preserving Vanoli’s heritage while building a competitive future.
Nelson echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of respecting the club’s history and leveraging the new platform to promote basketball throughout Europe, a vision that aligns with the NBA’s long‑term strategy for global outreach.