As NBA eyes Rome, two rivals emerge to duel for favor

ROME, Italy — In a city founded, according to ancient myth, on fratricide, two modern sporting twins are waging an undeclared war to rule the Eternal City and perhaps Europe.

In place of Romulus and his brother, and victim, Remus are two recently relocated basketball teams, both exploiting the city's classical history as they chase a single spot in a planned NBA Europe.

Having been deprived of basketball since 2020, Rome now has two teams in Serie A, the Italian basketball league which kicks off this weekend.

On one side of the wall are BC Roma SPQR, owned by former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic. They bought the club in Cremona in northern Italy and moved it down the road that led to Rome.

On the other are Maxima Roma, the new name for the former Brescia club which in June was also moved south by owner Paul Matiasic, an American lawyer.

The sudden appeal of Rome to American money is the decision by the powerful and wealthy North American National Basketball Association to establish a presence in Europe from 2027.

The NBA targeted 12 European cities for franchises in a closed league, modeled on the North American format: Paris, Lyon, London, Manchester, Berlin, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul and, in Italy, Milan and Rome.

The heads of the two Roman clubs are careful to avoid mentioning NBA Europe, the details of which remain vague.

"We want to bring the highest possible standard of basketball back to Rome, but our project isn't designed for any particular league," Matiasic told AFP.

At BC Roma, Nelson struck a similar note.

"Our hope is to play the best possible basketball in Rome, whether in the league, the NBA or elsewhere" said Nelson, who has a history in Europe having served as an assistant coach with Lithuania since 1990 as they have won three Olympic bronze medals.

The new owners moved quickly because some of the big European football clubs were showing interest in a potential NBA windfall.

"Building a team from scratch is actually quite easy once you've chosen the right people," Nelson told AFP.

He has appointed a young Italian coach, Alessandro Magro, and paired him with the illustrious Sergio Scariolo -– 2019 world champion and four-time European champion with Spain -– as adviser. They are supported by Chris Mullin, who won two Olympic gold medals, and played in the NBA under Donnie's father legendary coach Don, and Bryan Colangelo, a former president of the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers.

BC Roma will field a team built around Italian international Nico Mannion, signed from the reigning champions, Olimpia Milan, and several Americans with varying degrees of NBA experience.

Maxima have hired American point guard Aaron Holiday, who spent nine seasons in the NBA, mostly as a backup.

Matiasic pulled off a coup by recruiting Roman football legend Francesco Totti as special adviser – even though the former Roma and Italy striker admits he knows little about basketball.

"He understands Rome better than any of us; he has made the city's heart beat; he speaks to Romans," said Matiasic.

Attracting fans is crucial because the battle between the two clubs -– who will also be competing in the EuroCup, Europe's second-tier competition -- will also be played out in the stands.

Both teams will play at arenas built to host basketball at the 1960 Olympics and which were both used by the city's old club Virtus, which went bankrupt in 2020.

BC Roma will play at the PalaTiziano, a 3,500-seat arena not far from the city centre.

Maxima are thinking bigger. They will use the PalaEUR, which is further out but has a capacity of 11,000.

"Filling the arena was a challenge for Virtus," said basketball journalist Fabrizio Fabbri.

Even though the teams will create a little history when they meet for the first Roman basketball derby since Virtus played Stella Azzurra in 1978, Fabbri warns that the sport does not carry the ancient weight of the city's football rivalry.

"It's never been as electrifying as Lazio v Roma," he said.

abtestabtest 3 Philippine pairs in beach volley quarterfinals By Nelson Beltran | 10 hours ago For the Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball, the road got a little bumpier, but the destination is still very much in sight. Sports Huge turnout expected in 'Run For Your Life' race 18 hours ago Hi-Precision Diagnostics is putting health and fitness in the spotlight with the launch of Hi-Precision Diagnostics: Run For... Sports Besana lands on his feet, lands fifth in Asia By Nelson Beltran | 10 hours ago While the spotlight belonged to Carlos Yulo, Juancho Miguel Besana put on his own quiet show on the sidelines of a gigantic... Sports Bisera storms back to Top 9 10 hours ago Yvon Bisera made good on her vow to fight back, closing with a solid five-under 67 to storm into the Top 10 while local ace... Sports Frayna leads Philippines to draw vs Romania By Joey Villar | 10 hours ago The Philippines rode on Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna’s endgame brilliance as it pulled off a 2-2 draw with 23rd... Sports Latest More in Sports Mbappe injured as Zidane wins on France debut, Italy lose on Mancini return Pack of Wolves howls, growls Eala pumped up for Asiad drive Sanchez: Sorry no medal, but I’m not done abtest Historic silver for 3x3 belles By Olmin Leyba | 10 hours ago For a Gilas Pilipinas contingent reeling from the heartbreak of the lost jewel in 5-on-5 basketball, this silver glitters... Sports Boxing mixed results: Ogayre advances, Pasuit falls By Nelson Beltran | 10 hours ago From a mere escape in preliminary round, Junmilardo Ogayre came back hungry, angry, and precise, picking apart Nepal’s... Sports Chiefs get share of lead 10 hours ago From whipping boys to legitimate contenders. Sports The limits of grief By Bill Velasco | 10 hours ago In the face of unspeakable loss, we are allowed – entitled, even – to grieve. Sports Recommended Senate flags over 7,000 projects due to data anomalies 10 hours ago Questioning the lapsed legal mandate of acting Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, the Senate flagged 7,107 Department of... SportsDPWHSENATE VP Sara-Robin ahead of Leni-Bam in hypothetical matchup 10 hours ago A new survey by the OCTA Research group showed that more Filipinos prefer the hypothetical tandem of Vice President Sara Duterte... SportsELECTIONSSURVEY Mark Villar to remain with minority – Cayetano 10 hours ago Sen. Mark Villar will remain with the minority bloc despite his recent vote to alter the conviction threshold denominator... SportsSENATOR After years in detention, Mary Jane Veloso finally free after Marcos pardon 12 hours ago Mary Jane Veloso was formally released from the Correctional Institution for Women after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted... SportsBONGBONG MARCOSMARY JANE VELOSO SC asked to void lowered vote threshold in Sara Duterte impeachment 16 hours ago Two petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the lowered voting threshold approved by the Senate... SportsSARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT next Recommended Senate flags over 7,000 projects due to data anomalies Questioning the lapsed legal mandate of acting Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, the Senate flagged 7,107 Department of Public Works and Highways infrastructure projects worth P251 billion for data anomalies yesterday. 10 hours ago DPWH SENATE VP Sara-Robin ahead of Leni-Bam in hypothetical matchup A new survey by the OCTA Research group showed that more Filipinos prefer the hypothetical tandem of Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robin Padilla, than Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Sen. Bam Aquino, in the upcoming 2028 national elections. 10 hours ago ELECTIONS SURVEY Mark Villar to remain with minority – Cayetano Sen. Mark Villar will remain with the minority bloc despite his recent vote to alter the conviction threshold denominator in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday. 10 hours ago SENATOR After years in detention, Mary Jane Veloso finally free after Marcos pardon Mary Jane Veloso was formally released from the Correctional Institution for Women after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted her an absolute pardon. 12 hours ago BONGBONG MARCOS MARY JANE VELOSO SC asked to void lowered vote threshold in Sara Duterte impeachment Two petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the lowered voting threshold approved by the Senate impeachment court to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. 16 hours ago SARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!