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Fontecchio joined Baskonia immediately after representing Italy at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. His Olympic campaign ended on August 8, while Ivanovic’s preseason began two days later. “I was still in Japan and had to stop in Italy, so I very timidly asked Dusko if I could arrive later,” he recalled. “He said: ‘Of course. We start on the 10th, but you can come on the 12th.’” After a 13-hour journey, Fontecchio reached Vitoria around lunchtime and assumed he would be given time to recover. “Dusko told me: ‘Go and complete your physical tests. Practice is scheduled for 4 p.m., but don’t worry—we’ll move it to 6 p.m. so you can join us.’”
The 1.96-meter guard has since spent four seasons moving between the NBA and the G League, representing the Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Charlotte Hornets at the NBA level.
Marc Stein: Pistons adviser Dwane Casey has emerged as a head coaching candidate for BC Roma SPQR, which was recently co-founded by former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson alongside Luka Dončić, @TheSteinLine has learned. The club is also weighing European candidates for its debut Serie A season.
Iacopo De Santis: Denzel Valentine has signed with Apu Udine. Former NBA guard will continue his career in Italy, where he arrived in 2024. Over the last two seasons, he has played for Milano, Trieste, and Venezia.
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Iacopo De Santis: 🇮🇹👀 Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was in Italy for Saliou Niang, who was selected with the #58 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Niang recorded 11 points, 7 rebounds (3 offensive rebounds), 3 assists in 24 minutes.
Iacopo De Santis: Miami Heat point guard Davion Mitchell is training at the Varese Campus in Italy as a guest of the Italian team Openjobmetis Varese. He averaged 9.3 points and 6.5 assists per game during the latest NBA season.
The 19th edition of the adidas Eurocamp will take place from June 5–7 in Treviso, serving as a premier pre-draft showcase for international basketball players aged 16 to 22. This year’s event features a high-profile lineup of special guests, highlighted by Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner and Eurocamp alumnus Bogdan Bogdanovic. The German and Serbian players will be joined by fellow NBA star VJ Edgecombe to mentor the prospects gathered in Italy. Besides the active NBA players, the rosters for this year’s camp were also recently announced, showcasing top international talent across multiple teams. Notable prospects include Oscar Wembanyama, Meissa Faye, and David Torresani on Team Eurocamp. The development program also features prospects like Cameron Houindo and Swann Penda on Team Next Gen, Yumiti Saidake on Team World, and Dash Daniels representing Team NBL Next Stars.
Behind this undertaking is an investment group led by former NBA official Donnie Nelson, in which the Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic is one of the main investors. The operational part of the deal will be led by Rimantas Kaukenas, while the legendary Valerio Bianchini the creator of the greatest successes of Roman basketball, is also involved in the whole story. "For me, this is not just a simple financial investment. I want to build a club that can compete at the highest level and that will mean something to Roma, because they deserve the best, and we are ready to give them that," Doncic started for Gazzeta Dello Sport.
Did he want to help move a professional basketball team to Rome? The question came from Donnie Nelson, a former Mavericks executive who had brought Mr. Doncic to the National Basketball Association from Europe and was among those celebrating the win. Mr. Doncic barely had to think before answering yes. The pair are now the lead decision makers of an investment group that has bought a northern Italian basketball team, Vanoli Cremona, from a town that is famous for its violin makers. The group plans to move the team to Rome and submitted a bid to be the Roman representative in the N.B.A.’s ambitious plan to create a league in Europe.
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“I think that we’re optimistic and hopeful that the N.B.A. relationship happens,” Mr. Nelson said. “If it doesn’t happen for whatever reason, we’re still excited about moving forward with the Roman opportunity.”
Cody Taylor: Franz Wagner, Bogdan Bogdanović and VJ Edgecombe are among the players who will be special guest mentors at adidas Eurocamp 2026 on June 5-7 in Treviso, Italy. The following teams and athletes will participate:
AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale explained why he sees the NBA Europe project as a major opportunity for the Italian football giant. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the RedBird Capital Partners founder said Milan want to be part of the potential collaboration between European football clubs and the NBA, viewing it as a way to grow the club's global brand, create new opportunities for fans, and strengthen its financial position. "The NBA is probably the only truly international sport that comes from the United States," Cardinale said in the interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
But here too, I think in terms of: 'How does this help AC Milan?' The EuroLeague has existed for 26 years, and most teams are not profitable. It is not sustainable. So I think European football clubs should collaborate with the NBA and bring NBA basketball to Europe. And that is what I will try to do in Milan," he said. "The goal is to continue elevating the Milan brand, offer opportunities to the fanbase, and continue improving our financial profile. So it is all part of an ecosystem in which everyone should benefit from one another," Cardinale concluded.