Maxima Roma, the Vernon Carey Jr. Mystery
As Giuseppe Malaguti reports on his Facebook page, there may be some major developments at Maxima Roma. Vernon Carey Jr.’s stint in Italy could, in fact, come to an end after just a few weeks. The American center, born in 2001, arrived in Rome during the summer transfer window and was presented as one of the most significant signings for the new Roman project. His time at Maxima, however, appears to be nearing its end. Carey Jr. is expected to terminate his contract with the Rome-based club, thus bringing his brief stint with the team to an early end.
This news comes at a delicate moment for the newly formed Roman franchise, which was officially unveiled just a few days ago, on September 8, at a press conference featuring owner Paul Matiasic and renowned advisor Francesco Totti. On that occasion, the former owner of Pallacanestro Trieste outlined the ambitions of the Rome project with great enthusiasm: “Rome deserves great basketball and a new model of sports entertainment. The goal is to win and reach the top as quickly as possible.”
Standing alongside Matiasic, the former Giallorossi captain reaffirmed his full commitment to the initiative: “I was on a different path, but when I met Paul and he told me what he wanted to do for Rome, I was convinced. Here, they’ve valued me and made me feel like part of the project.” Totti, who serves as an advisor to the ownership group with responsibility for fan base development and corporate social responsibility initiatives, had also set out the long-term goals: “We want to give Rome and the Romans a basketball team to support—one they can identify with and be proud of.”
Carey Jr.’s departure, should it materialize, therefore risks complicating the club’s on-court plans ahead of a league debut that is just around the corner. Maxima Roma is set to make its Serie A debut on September 27, when it will host Napoli Basketball on the first day of the 2026–2027 season: a highly anticipated matchup for the new Roman team, which will need to make the best possible impression on its fans. Finding a suitable replacement at the center position—and doing so quickly—therefore becomes a top priority for the club’s general manager and coaching staff.
