Ambitious plan. Lakers leader Luka Dončić acquires basketball club in Europe
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
One of the brightest basketball talents of our time, Luka Dončić, has made a major move off the court. The NBA superstar has become a co-owner of the Italian club Vanoli Cremona and has already set out ambitious goals for this new project.
According to ANSA, Dončić purchased the club together with former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson. In the future, the team will relocate and compete under the name Vanoli Roma.
For the Slovenian basketball player, this is more than just an investment—it's a long-term sporting project. Dončić's main objective is to elevate the club to a new level and secure participation in the new European NBA tournament, which is set to launch next year.
The competition, seen as a potential rival to the EuroLeague, is expected to feature between 12 and 16 teams from across the continent.
I've dreamed of owning my own club in Europe for a long time. And now my dream has come true. Vanoli is a club with a rich history. We're ready to develop it further in Rome. We have a great team of partners. I believe we can achieve something outstanding for basketball," Dončić said.
Currently, the 27-year-old Slovenian plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Previously, he played for Real Madrid, and after moving to the NBA, he became one of the league's biggest stars, spending several seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.
