The NBA has been in talks of starting a new league in Europe for quite some time. And it looks like former stars are recognizing the potential for growth and investment. Shaquille O’Neal is the latest star to make moves toward becoming a driving force for NBA Europe.
Shaq Ready to Drive NBA Europe Forward with Latest Move
According to Italian media, the former NBA champion has been involved in the acquisition of the Italian basketball team, Napoli Basket. The team competes in the first Italian basketball league, and the potential for growth is there. There is no clear answer as to what Shaq’s role will be with the team at the moment.
According to the original source, American-Italian entrepreneur Matt Rizzetta will take over 66% of Napoli Basket’s shares. Rizzetta is the founder and CEO of North Sixth Group, a company ranked as one of the 50 most powerful PR agencies in the United States. He brings marketing experience to a team that has potential for growth and moving up in the league.
Shaq will be involved in the deal in a sponsorship capacity. Having one of the most recognizable figures in basketball as the face of the new project will boost Napoli’s profile.
How Big is Napoli Basket?
After the 2020-21 season, Napoli Basket was promoted to Lega Basket Serie A, which is the highest-tier professional basketball competition in Italy. Naples is the major center of the Campania region in Italy, with less than one million population. It is the third biggest city in Italy. Napoli Basket is moving up in the ranks. In February 2024, they beat Olimpia Milano and won the first Italian Cup in the club’s history. The team has had some former NBA players on its roster over the years, including Tyler Ennis, Jacob Pullen, and Tariq Owens.
Shaq – the Face of NBA Europe
In March of this year, the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced their joint exploration of a new professional men’s basketball league in Europe. The idea is to bring the sport to more European fans and accelerate the game’s growth across the continent.
The current plan is to have six to ten teams in major cities. The NBA wants cities that already have a huge soccer following, making it easier to bring sports fans to arenas. With the latest move, Shaq is positioning himself as a brand ambassador for NBA Europe. Maybe that will not happen initially, but the big fella thinks for the future.
After leaving the sport, Shaq became one of the smartest investors. He is ranked among the top five richest basketball players in terms of net worth. Yet, he left the game before players started earning $50 million per season.
Now, it looks like he is one of the early entrants into the NBA’s next big thing. Nobody knows when the European NBA will begin, but those who get an early entrance into the market will surely benefit. It seems like O’Neal and his partners have big plans for Napoli. Italian media reports that they want to bring Jay Larranaga, a former Napoli player and current assistant coach for the LA Clippers, to Italy as head coach of the team. Having a global icon like the Diesel gives plenty of international visibility to the project already.
Photo credit: © Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images
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