Luka Doncic’s announcement: “Basketball is returning to Rome”
Luka Doncic has announced his involvement in a new basketball project in Rome, as the Italian capital aims to become a major force again in both LBA and European basketball
“Basketball is returning to Rome”. Those few words, posted by Luka Doncic on social media, were enough to ignite excitement in a city that has spent years waiting to see a competitive basketball team return to the highest level.
The Los Angeles Lakers star announced his involvement in a new basketball venture in the Italian capital, joining as a minority shareholder in a club whose goal is to bring Rome back to prominence both domestically and across Europe.
According to the latest reports, the new organization has completed the transfer of Vanoli Cremona’s sporting license to Rome, with the objective of competing in Lega Basket Serie A as early as next season. The Italian Basketball Federation has reportedly already granted preliminary conditional approval for the operation.
President Aldo Vanoli announces that today the sale of Guerino Vanoli Basket to a new ownership group has been completed
Vanoli Basket Cremona
Several prominent figures from the international basketball world are behind the project. Leading the ownership group is reportedly Donnie Nelson, former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, who is determined to build something significant in the capital. Joining him are Roberto Carmenati, a longtime international scout for the Mavericks, and Rimantas Kaukenas, former president of Wolves Vilnius and a former standout figure in Italian basketball during his years with Siena.
The connection to Doncic is no coincidence. Nelson has also served as a special advisor to the Slovenian national team since last summer, and the project appears to carry a strong international identity. Rome could therefore become one of the strategic hubs in the future development of European basketball, especially amid increasingly persistent rumors surrounding a potential NBA Europe initiative.
Meanwhile, another name is already generating excitement among fans: Sasha Djordjevic. The former European champion and highly respected coach is reportedly the leading candidate to take over as head coach of the team.
Doncic’s announcement immediately sparked enthusiasm across social media. It’s not every day that an NBA superstar chooses to invest directly in Italian basketball, and the message is clear: Rome wants to be relevant again.
And this time, it appears to be serious.