Luka Dončić is teaming up with former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson on a basketball venture in Rome, adding a major global name to efforts aimed at expanding the sport’s footprint in Italy.
The group has submitted a bid to join the developing NBA Europe league, a project designed to establish a broader NBA-linked presence across the continent.
Dončić and Nelson have a long-standing connection from their time with the Mavericks. Nelson was Dallas’ president of basketball operations when the franchise acquired Dončić in the 2018 NBA Draft, a move that quickly reshaped the team’s future.
The Rome project marks another high-profile basketball initiative tied to NBA Europe as the league concept continues to take shape. No further details about the bid or team structure have been announced.