Lakers' Luka Doncic Announces Investment in Rome Basketball Team in Trending Video

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić formally announced Friday he's part of the ownership group relocating Italian basketball team Vanoli Cremona to Rome.

"I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time, to finally have this happen is amazing," he said in a statement (via ESPN's Dave McMenamin). "Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an amazing group of partners, and I really believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe."

The Athletic's Joe Vardon, Sam Amick and Mike Vorkunov first reported in February that Dončić was working with former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson to purchase Vanoli Cremona, which competes in Italy's Liga Basket Seria A.

In addition to setting the team up in Rome, there could be wider ambitions to align with the NBA and FIBA's new European league. Rome presents a far more attractive market than Cremona in that regard.

Dončić, Nelson and everybody else in the ownership group will have to pony up to make that a reality. NBC News' Andrew Greif reported in April the NBA was receiving bids of up to $1 billion to buy into the upstart league.

For now, Vanoli is set to compete in Serie A for the 2026-27 season.