Rumors

Representatives from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, two soccer and basketball heavyweights, Olimpia Milano, Panathinaikos, ASVEL, Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin were participants, signaling their interest in joining NBA Europe. NBA officials met privately with Fenerbahce, a top European team from Istanbul, last week in Berlin. Additionally, representatives from English soccer giant Manchester City were there, as were executives from Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan, signaling their intent to either create new teams in their cities or invest further in existing teams.

New York Times

Telegraph Media Group owner and Liverpool FC investor RedBird Capital Partners is working with the NBA on its plans to launch a European basketball league, City AM can reveal. RedBird, which also owns Italian football giants AC Milan, is playing a prominent role in wooing potential investors and partners in the venture at an exclusive meeting in London today.

cityam.com

Tatum also laid out countries that will likely host the 10-to-12 permanent NBA Europe franchises, identifying France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Greece. He also specifically singled out potential Euroleague clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and LDLC ASVEL (owned by former NBAer Tony Parker). “Almost like the Champions League of basketball in Europe,” Tatum said. “So brands like Real Madrid and Barca and Man City and PSG and AC Milan playing basketball. That’s pretty compelling. Not only premium live sports content that’s relevant in Europe, but it’s relevant globally. It’s relevant in Asia, it’s relevant in the United States and North America because some of the brands that we’re talking to have tremendous global followings.” He also mentioned there would likely be a bridge year before four other teams qualify for the league in Year 2, saying, “If you’re in Lithuania, if you’re in Serbia, if you’re in Croatia, other clubs in those markets, we want every team to have an opportunity to play into that top tier league.”

Sports Business Journal

O'Dea alum and NBA All-Star Paolo Banchero has joined the ownership group of the Seattle Seawolves. The Seawolves announced Banchero’s investment as part of his expanding sports portfolio, which includes a stake in AC Milan. “Adding Paolo to the Seawolves family is incredibly exciting,” said Seawolves majority owner Chris Prentice. “His roots in Seattle, his commitment to excellence, and his passion for uplifting the community align perfectly with the values of our club.”

king5.com

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, alongside Boston Red Sox owner Fenway Sports Group and RedBird Capital Partners, owner of the AC Milan Italian soccer club, have expressed interest in owning an NBA franchise in Las Vegas. So has Bill Foley, the owner of the National Hockey League’s Las Vegas Golden Knights. “We have a very powerful group — I can tell you money is not a problem,” Foley said. He added that his group includes “several well-known basketball players and a couple very wealthy people, people who can buy me and sell me 20 times over.” A person familiar with the matter said James “continues to be interested and in discussion with his partners at Fenway about the opportunity.” Fenway Sports Group declined to comment.

Bloomberg

The New York Yankees baseball franchise and a Los Angeles investment fund are investing in AC Milan alongside US private equity group RedBird, which is closing in on the €1.2bn acquisition of Italy’s football champions, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The baseball team, owned by the Steinbrenner family, and Main Street Advisors, the LA-based fund that counts among its investors basketball star LeBron James, famed music producer Jimmy Iovine and rapper Drake, will become shareholders in the Serie A team, those people said. RedBird is set to announce the entry of its new partners as early as Wednesday when it is expected to officially take control of the club from its current owner, US hedge fund Elliott Management, those people said.

ft.com

AC Milan, the Italian soccer club supported by Bryant, led the tributes ahead of its match against Torino Tuesday. Players wore black armbands, while a video showing pictures of Bryant and his daughter were played on the big screens in the San Siro stadium before kickoff.

cnn.com

Milan's former captain Massimo Ambrosini, who made 489 appearances for the Rossoneri and represented the Italy's national team, said he was inspired by Bryant and was left in tears once the news had begun to sink in. "I was shocked, I couldn't believe it had happened. It was so strange that you cannot believe it," he told CNN. "He was such a big athlete, such a big human being."

cnn.com

Before the game, the team said this on Twitter: "In agreement with Serie A, tonight AC Milan will wear the black armband in memory of Kobe Bryant, who died in a tragic helicopter crash together with his daughter Gianna Maria and 7 other victims. The whole San Siro will also pay a tribute just a few minutes away from kick off." The team then posted the following photo with a caption that included "legends never die."

CBSSports.com

AC Milan announced that they will play with black armband to honor Kobe Bryant “one of the greatest sportsmen of all time and Rossonero fan” for the Coppa Italia game against FC Torino. Milano also asked Lega Calcio to have 1-minute silence before the game but according to Sky Sports journalist Alessandro Bonan, Lega did not allow it (but Bonan deleted his tweet).

Sportando

NetsDaily: Milan sports report seems to suggest Gianluca Pascucci, Nets respected Director of Global Scouting, is in line for an executive role with AC Milano but also could replace Trajan Langdon as asst GM if Langdon leaves. Pascucci was Rockets VP for player personnel for four years.

Twitter

AC Milan: It has been a pleasure watching a true Rossonero dominate the @NBA for all these years. Thank you @kobebryant #KB20

Twitter

AC Milan: What a glad surprise at #Milanello this morning... Did you know @kobebryant is one of us? #weareacmilan pic.twitter.com/crMhHrc4KC

Twitter

Emiliano Carchia: Kobe Bryant: 'In the locker room in Los Angeles I have an AC Milan jersey'

Twitter