Adam Silver Says Player Ownership in Prospective NBA Europe Still Under Review
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league has not yet decided whether active players, including Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, will be allowed to own franchises in the planned NBA Europe competition.
Speaking at a news conference during the NBA Finals, Silver outlined the next steps for the Europe-based league. “Our bidding process is continuing. The end of this month, bids will be due, and presumably we’ll be in a position in the fall to award franchises,” he said. Silver added that the league is working with FIBA on a qualification system and that ownership rules remain unsettled.
Doncic recently joined an investment group that purchased Vanoli Cremona of Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A. The consortium—also featuring former Dallas Mavericks president Donnie Nelson, veteran coach Valerio Bianchini, and ex-player Rimantas Kaukėnas—plans to relocate the club to Rome and has submitted a bid to join NBA Europe.
Current NBA players are prohibited from owning NBA teams, but Silver noted that the new European venture presents unique considerations. “Whether it’s Luka Doncic or other players owning teams, that’s not been resolved yet. That’s an issue we have to work through with our Players Association,” he said. Silver acknowledged potential complications if active players hold stakes in teams that have a formal relationship with the NBA.
The National Basketball Players Association and the league will continue discussions to determine whether player ownership creates a conflict of interest. No timeline was provided for a final decision.
In a separate development, BYU standout AJ Dybantsa—projected by some analysts as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft—praised Doncic after watching the Lakers face the Utah Jazz this season, calling the performance “one of the craziest” he has seen in person.
Source: LakersNation.com
