More than a year removed from the blockbuster trade that sent him from Dallas to Los Angeles, Luka Dončić is not just thriving-he’s evolving. On the court, he’s the engine of a Lakers team that found its post-LeBron identity faster than anyone could’ve imagined. Off it, Dončić is expanding his footprint in ways that show he’s thinking far beyond the hardwood.
Now 26, Dončić is reportedly taking his first steps into team ownership, joining an investor group aiming to bring professional basketball to Rome as part of the NBA’s ambitious European expansion plans. According to multiple sources, the group is led by former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson, the same executive who orchestrated the draft-night trade in 2018 that brought Dončić to Dallas in the first place.
Nelson, whose basketball lineage runs deep as the son of Hall of Famer Don Nelson, has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to purchase Vanoli Basket Cremona, a club based in northern Italy. The bigger play? Transforming that acquisition into a launchpad for NBA Europe-a long-rumored initiative that’s now starting to take shape under commissioner Adam Silver’s global vision.
It’s a full-circle moment of sorts. Dončić, born in Slovenia and raised in the European basketball system, knows firsthand the passion and talent that exist across the continent.
His involvement in this venture isn’t just symbolic-it’s strategic. He’s aligning himself with a project that could redefine the global reach of the NBA, and he’s doing it alongside familiar faces.
While early reports suggested that Dirk Nowitzki might also be part of the ownership group, his representative has denied that involvement. However, another notable name in the mix is Rimas Kaukenas, a Lithuanian basketball legend with deep ties to the Italian pro scene. His presence adds both credibility and local insight to the group’s efforts.
For Dončić, this move into ownership feels like a natural progression. He’s always played with a veteran’s poise, and now he’s thinking like one off the court too. It’s not just about building a brand-it’s about shaping the future of the sport he loves, in a region that helped shape him.
Back in Los Angeles, Lakers head coach JJ Redick still remembers the exact moment he learned about the trade that brought Dončić to L.A.-a moment that, in hindsight, reshaped the franchise’s trajectory. Redick, who’s always been a student of the game, now finds himself coaching one of its most gifted artists. And a year later, the ripple effects of that trade are still being felt-not just in the standings, but in the culture shift that followed.
Dončić is more than a superstar. He’s a connector-between eras, between continents, and now, between the court and the boardroom.
As the NBA continues to push its boundaries, he’s positioning himself at the forefront of the movement. And if this Rome project comes to life, it won’t just be a win for Dončić-it’ll be a milestone for the global game.