Speculation about Mike D’Antoni’s return to Italy is growing
Mike D’Antoni could be the next big name to join the BC Roma project. According to reports in *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the former NBA coach is close to joining the club’s management structure, although an official announcement has not yet been made.
Bryan Colangelo, who has a long-standing friendship with D’Antoni, is said to be pushing for his arrival. The arrival of the former coach—who is also well known in Italy for his past as a player and coach—would be yet another sign of the American ownership’s ambitions and their desire to build a club with strong international expertise.
This potential development comes just as BC Roma has officially announced the addition of Colangelo and Chris Mullin to its Advisory Board. The two have joined Valerio Bianchini and Sergio Scariolo on an Advisory Board that continues to attract high-profile figures.
Colangelo, a two-time NBA Executive of the Year and former executive in Phoenix, Toronto, and Philadelphia, will play a central role. “With the season just around the corner and European basketball undergoing profound changes, I truly believe there is a unique opportunity to build something significant and lasting that basketball fans in Rome and across Europe can be proud of. I’m thrilled to take the helm of BC Roma’s advisory board and to support Donnie and the rest of the organization as the club continues to develop, both on and off the court.”
Joining him will be Mullin, a five-time NBA All-Star, two-time Olympic champion, and Hall of Famer. The former Golden State Warriors star described Rome as “an extraordinary place to build something special.” His son, Chris Jr., is also expected to join the staff, further strengthening the connection between American and Italian basketball.
Above all, the future is on the table. BC Roma also wants to grow on the European stage and is closely monitoring the potential new landscape surrounding NBA Europe. From this perspective, the arrival of figures such as Colangelo, Mullin, and, possibly, D’Antoni takes on even greater significance.
The Rome-based project thus continues to broaden its horizons: Colangelo and Mullin are already on board, D’Antoni could be the next high-profile addition, and in the background remains the possibility of forging an alliance with the Friedkins. All this while the city rivalry with Maxima Roma continues, in a race that involves not only the court but also investments, relationships, and positioning in the future of European basketball.
