Roma Hoops
BC ROMA ROOM
Ownership, leadership, roster, arena and the road to NBA Europe.
AT A GLANCE
CURRENT STATUS — SEPTEMBER 2026
BC Roma is preparing for its first Serie A and EuroCup season while its ownership group remains involved in Rome’s race for a future NBA Europe franchise.COMPETITIONS
Serie A · BKT EuroCupHEAD COACH
Alessandro MagroHOME ARENA
PalaTizianoMAJORITY OWNER
Donnie NelsonKEY INVESTOR
Luka DončićNBA EUROPE
Rome franchise bid
What is BC Roma?
BC Roma is one of two new major basketball projects launched in Rome ahead of the 2026/27 season. The club entered Italy’s Serie A after acquiring the sporting rights previously held by Vanoli Cremona and will also compete in the BKT EuroCup.The project is led by former NBA executive Donnie Nelson and includes Luka Dončić among its investors, giving the club an unusually strong connection with American basketball from its very beginning.BC Roma is coached by Alessandro Magro and has built both its roster and organisational structure with clear international ambitions. The club has openly positioned itself around the idea of returning Rome to the European basketball map, while its ownership group is also involved in the wider race for a future NBA Europe franchise in the Italian capital.
Who is behind BC Roma?
Donnie Nelson
Majority owner and central figure in the project. Former longtime Dallas Mavericks executive.Luka Dončić
Investor in the club and the most internationally recognisable name associated with the project.Alessandro Magro
Head coach, responsible for building the first team and its playing identity.Sergio Scariolo
Special Advisor for Basketball Strategy.Bryan Colangelo & Chris Mullin
Members of the Advisory Board, further strengthening the club’s NBA-level network.
THE ROSTER
THE 2026/27 ROSTERNico Mannion
Corey Davis
Gerald Ayayi
Erik Stevenson
Paul Watson
Trentyn Flowers
Artūrs Strautiņš
Andrea Mezzanotte
Marco Simonović
Jesse Edwards
Giovanni Emejuru
Michael Iuzzolino
Giannis Odzebe
Head coach: Alessandro MagroRoster subject to changes during the season.
Why BC Roma matters
BC Roma is unusual because the project has been built simultaneously on three levels: Italian basketball, European competition and the emerging NBA Europe opportunity.Its ownership and advisory structure gives the club immediate access to an international basketball network rarely seen in a newly created European organisation.The key question is now whether that institutional strength can be converted into three things that cannot simply be bought: sporting credibility, a real fan base in Rome and a lasting relationship with the city.
BC Roma and NBA Europe
Rome is one of the markets targeted by the NBA for its planned European competition, expected to launch in 2027.BC Roma is one of the projects associated with a bid for Rome, alongside Maxima Roma.No Rome franchise has been awarded. The NBA has said that discussions with prospective ownership groups and markets are continuing and that further announcements are expected in the coming months.For BC Roma, its NBA-connected ownership and leadership inevitably make the NBA Europe process one of the most important long-term stories to follow.