By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Maxi Kleber is looking hard at his options this offseason, and a return to Europe is looking more and more likely. After spending nine seasons in the NBA, most recently playing alongside Luka Doncic with the Los Angeles Lakers, the 34-year-old German big remains a free agent. Now, he might be on his way to Italy to rejoin his former teammate in a different capacity.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line on Monday, the newly formed BC Roma has been aggressively exploring a deal to bring in Kleber. The club, co-founded by the Slovenian superstar and former NBA executive Donnie Nelson, is about to tip off its very first season. Their goal isn’t just to compete continentally in the BKT EuroCup and domestically in Italy’s top-tier LBA UnipolSai. But they want to establish a flagship franchise in Rome that could eventually feature in the top tier of the Old Continent, perhaps in a new league backed by the NBA and FIBA, widely referred to as NBA Europe. Adding a veteran with over 531 NBA games under his belt would be a massive statement for the project.
The team, initially named Roma SPQR, was born after taking over the sports license of Vanoli Cremona. They are jumping straight into the deep end this year. To handle the EuroCup and LBA schedules, they’ve built a fascinating mix of young talent and veteran experience. Head coach Alessandro Magro will run the bench, while legendary strategist Sergio Scariolo is on board as a special advisor, alongside fellow advisors Chris Mullin and Bryan Colangelo.
On the court, the team has already locked down star guard Nico Mannion, who was recruited from Doncic himself. He’ll share the floor with other early signings, including Gerald Ayayi, Arturs Strautins, Marko Simonovic, and former NBA wing Paul Watson.
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