"Basketball is coming back to Rome", NBA star announces, as Cremona-based club relocates to Italian capital.Rome is set to return to Italy's top basketball division for the first time in six years, after a group of American investors led by veteran NBA executive Donnie Nelson purchased Cremona-based club Vanoli Basket and announced plans to relocate it to the capital for the 2026–27 season.NBA star Luka Dončić, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, is among the backers of the new ownership group. The Slovenian announced the deal on social media with the message "Basketball is coming back to Rome." Nelson - who served as president of basketball operations at the Dallas Mavericks when the club traded for Dončić on draft night in 2018 - is the managing partner of the group that purchased Vanoli Cremona, one of the longest-established clubs in Italian basketball. Rome had been without a Serie A basketball club since Virtus Roma's withdrawal from the championship in late 2020 due to financial difficulties. New adventure The announcement was welcomed enthusiastically by Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, who praised Dončić on social media. "Rome awaits you for this new adventure, which strengthens the international vocation of our city and enriches its sports offerings" - Gualtieri wrote - "The Capital continues to attract investments and opportunities, confirming itself more and more as a protagonist on the international scene."   Grande @lukadoncic! Roma vi aspetta per questa nuova avventura, che rafforza la vocazione internazionale della nostra città e ne arricchisce l'offerta sportiva.La Capitale continua ad attrarre investimenti e opportunità, confermandosi sempre più protagonista sulla scena… https://t.co/w2Ib1kOwQ8 — Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) May 29, 2026 The move is seen as directly tied to the forthcoming NBA Europe competition. The NBA is planning a 16-team European tournament to launch in October 2027, with 12 permanent franchise slots and four additional places awarded annually on sporting merit. Italy is guaranteed two of the permanent slots, assigned to clubs from Milan and Rome. Other cities included are London and Manchester, Paris and Lyon, Madrid and Barcelona, Berlin and Munich, Athens and Istanbul. World-class basketball Nelson said Rome "deserves world-class basketball" and pledged to honour the Vanoli Cremona legacy while building towards the city's return to the summit of the sport. Dončić said he had "dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time" and expressed his belief that the new club could do "something special for basketball in Italy and in Europe." The NBA has already been expanding its European footprint, with regular-season games scheduled in European cities between 2026 and 2028. This past January, the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic played in both Berlin and London, and in January 2027 the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans will face off in Paris and Manchester. Olimpia Milano remains the natural candidate for the city of Milan, with matches expected to be held at the newly built Arena Santa Giulia, constructed for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Photo credit: Robert Skalski / Shutterstock.com

Rome is set to return to Italy's top basketball division for the first time in six years, after a group of American investors led by veteran NBA executive Donnie Nelson purchased Cremona-based club Vanoli Basket and announced plans to relocate it to the capital for the 2026–27 season. NBA star Luka Dončić, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, is among the backers of the new ownership group. The Slovenian announced the deal on social media with the message "Basketball is coming back to Rome." Nelson - who served as president of basketball operations at the Dallas Mavericks when the club traded for Dončić on draft night in 2018 - is the managing partner of the group that purchased Vanoli Cremona, one of the longest-established clubs in Italian basketball. Rome had been without a Serie A basketball club since Virtus Roma's withdrawal from the championship in late 2020 due to financial difficulties. The announcement was welcomed enthusiastically by Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, who praised Dončić on social media. "Rome awaits you for this new adventure, which strengthens the international vocation of our city and enriches its sports offerings" - Gualtieri wrote - "The Capital continues to attract investments and opportunities, confirming itself more and more as a protagonist on the international scene."   Grande !
Roma vi aspetta per questa nuova avventura, che rafforza la vocazione internazionale della nostra città e ne arricchisce l'offerta sportiva.
La Capitale continua ad attrarre investimenti e opportunità, confermandosi sempre più protagonista sulla scena… — Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) The move is seen as directly tied to the forthcoming NBA Europe competition. The NBA is planning a 16-team European tournament to launch in October 2027, with 12 permanent franchise slots and four additional places awarded annually on sporting merit. Italy is guaranteed two of the permanent slots, assigned to clubs from Milan and Rome. Other cities included are London and Manchester, Paris and Lyon, Madrid and Barcelona, Berlin and Munich, Athens and Istanbul. Nelson said Rome "deserves world-class basketball" and pledged to honour the Vanoli Cremona legacy while building towards the city's return to the summit of the sport. Dončić said he had "dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time" and expressed his belief that the new club could do "something special for basketball in Italy and in Europe." The NBA has already been expanding its European footprint, with regular-season games scheduled in European cities between 2026 and 2028. This past January, the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic played in both Berlin and London, and in January 2027 the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans will face off in Paris and Manchester. Olimpia Milano remains the natural candidate for the city of Milan, with matches expected to be held at the newly built Arena Santa Giulia, constructed for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Photo credit: Robert Skalski / Shutterstock.com