Luka Doncic acquires Italian club Vanoli Cremona, targets NBA Europe
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 6:30 PM
Last updated Jun 2, 2026
Luka Doncic has teamed up with former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson to acquire Vanoli Cremona, a professional basketball club in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A. The deal aims to relocate the club to Rome and enter NBA Europe, which seeks expansion in the continent. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum highlighted Doncic's significance in the project, noting his familiarity with European basketball dynamics. As Doncic and Nelson work on this venture, they may need to secure additional funding to support the expansion fee, estimated between $500 million and $1 billion. The NBA Europe league is scheduled to launch in October 2027.
- •Doncic's contract with the Los Angeles Lakers is worth $165 million.
- •Vanoli Cremona is currently based near Milan but plans to move to Rome.
- •Approximately 120 investors have expressed interest in NBA Europe.
- •Mark Tatum confirmed the NBA Europe launch is set for October 2027.
- •The club relocation and expansion bid may require further funding.
- 6:30 PMYahoo Sports — NBA hail ‘amazing’ move after Luka Doncic’s $500m pledge
"Luka Doncic’s Los Angeles Lakers contract is worth $165m and he earns tens of millions of dollars annually in endorsements – and he is putting that money to work. Alongside the former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson, Doncic, 27, has acquired Vanoli Cremona, a professional basketball club which plays in Italy’s top-flight Lega Basket Serie A.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- NBA•Jun 2, 2026, 7:14 PMShai Gilgeous-Alexander’s response left more questions than answers about OKC’s future
BasketballNBA•Jun 2, 2026, 6:35 PMTre Donaldson has completed NBA pre-draft workouts …- NBA•Jun 2, 2026, 6:25 PMJeremy Sochan is getting an NBA Championship ring, no matter who wins
- NBA•Jun 2, 2026, 5:36 PMLakers Hire Yao Williams II As Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships
- NBA•Jun 2, 2026, 5:34 PMPhiladelphia 76ers predicted to lose key contributor in free agency
- NBA•Jun 2, 2026, 5:00 PMVictor Wembanyama's toughest NBA Finals opponent may not be the Knicks