Could Nikola Jokić really abandon the NBA for Panathinaikos?
The Greek powerhouse’s owner claims he has already made a serious attempt to prise Jokić away from Denver and intends to return with another offer next year.
It is an extraordinary ambition, but the facts point overwhelmingly towards Jokić remaining with the Nuggets and signing a projected five-year, $359.5 million contract—the richest deal in NBA history.
Panathinaikos owner makes stunning Jokić claim
Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos claims he approached Jokić and the Nuggets about acquiring the final season of the Serbian superstar’s contract.
“There is one player who remains a dream of mine, who I haven’t signed yet, but I will sign next year,” Giannakopoulos told the Basketball Sphere podcast.
“It’s Jokić, the best player in the world.
“This year, I made a very serious offer to both his team and him. I tried to buy out the last year of his contract, but they rejected me. Let’s wait until next year.”
Giannakopoulos insisted he was serious when those around him appeared amused by the proposal.
“Don’t laugh,” he said.
“Until I sign him, I’m not going anywhere. This year, I tried to make an offer. Ask Miško Ražnatović, his agent.”
No independent report has confirmed the details or value of the alleged offer. Neither Jokić nor the Nuggets has indicated that a move to Panathinaikos was seriously considered.
The comments were reported as part of Fox Sports’ latest NBA trade update.
Jokić has already revealed his plan
Giannakopoulos’ public confidence is difficult to reconcile with Jokić’s own comments.
The three-time NBA Most Valuable Player has repeatedly said he wants to remain in Denver for the rest of his career.
“My idea is to stay with the Nuggets,” Jokić said after representing Serbia in a FIBA World Cup qualifier.
“I’ll probably sign next year. The reason for that is strictly business.
“My desire is to play with the Nuggets for the rest of my career. It’s up to them whether they’ll offer me that or not.”
Jokić delivered a similarly direct message following Denver’s first-round playoff elimination against Minnesota.
“I still want to be a Nugget forever,” he said.
Nothing in either statement suggests he is preparing to return to Europe.
His decision to delay signing an extension is not evidence of dissatisfaction with Denver. It is a calculated financial move that could earn him an additional guaranteed year and approximately $80 million more than he can secure now.
Why Jokić is waiting for $360 million
Jokić is currently eligible to sign a four-year maximum extension projected to be worth approximately $278 million.
If he waits until the 2027 offseason, he can decline his $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season and negotiate a new five-year deal with Denver worth approximately $359.5 million.
The final amount will depend on the NBA salary cap, but current projections would make it the largest contract in league history.
That potential deal could also include a no-trade clause, giving Jokić substantial control over where he spends the remainder of his career.
The financial difference explains why he is waiting.
Denver has no reason to interpret that decision as a rejection. Jokić previously delayed an extension for the same reason—waiting allowed him to become eligible for more years and a larger guaranteed total.
Unless he suffers a career-altering injury, the maximum offer will almost certainly remain available.
Can Panathinaikos realistically compete?
Panathinaikos is one of Europe’s most successful and financially powerful basketball clubs.
The Greek team can offer Jokić a return to Europe, a passionate supporter base, a chance to compete for EuroLeague titles and significantly less travel than an NBA season requires.
What it cannot realistically offer is anything close to $359.5 million.
Jokić would need to sacrifice an unprecedented amount of guaranteed salary to join Panathinaikos during the prime of his career. He would also leave the world’s strongest basketball competition while continuing to perform at an MVP level.
There is another fundamental obstacle: Jokić remains under contract.
He is guaranteed $59 million for the 2026-27 season and holds a $62.8 million player option for the following campaign. Panathinaikos cannot simply sign him while that NBA contract remains active.
Denver would need to agree to release him from his contractual obligations or participate in an extraordinarily complicated arrangement. The Nuggets have provided no indication that they would consider doing so.
The more realistic opening arrives in 2027, when Jokić can decline his option and become a free agent—but that is also when Denver can place the historic five-year offer in front of him.
Why Panathinaikos will keep trying
Giannakopoulos has admired Jokić publicly for years.
“Out of active players I would like to sign, Nikola Jokić,” he said in 2024.
“I love watching him. I stopped watching the NBA after Michael Jordan and started again because of Nikola Jokić.
“He’s my favourite player of all time. I don’t believe in athleticism; I believe in the brain.”
That admiration is understandable.
Jokić has transformed the possibilities of the centre position through his passing, decision-making, rebounding and scoring efficiency. He does not rely on traditional athletic dominance, making him an ideal representation of the style of basketball Giannakopoulos values.
Signing him would also be the biggest recruitment coup in modern European basketball history.
The Panathinaikos owner loses nothing by publicly declaring his ambition. It generates enormous attention for his club and reinforces its status as one of the continent’s most aggressive operators.
Actually convincing Jokić to leave Denver is another matter.
Jokić remains at the peak of his powers
Jokić averaged 27.7 points, an NBA-leading 12.9 rebounds and a league-best 10.7 assists across 65 games during the 2025-26 season.
It was the second consecutive campaign in which he averaged a triple-double.
He finished second to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in MVP voting for the second straight season, extending his run of finishing first or second to six consecutive years.
Jokić has won three MVP awards, earned eight All-NBA selections and led Denver to its first championship in 2023.
The Nuggets have not advanced beyond the second round since winning that title, and their recent playoff struggles create pressure on management to improve the roster around him.
However, disappointing postseason results have not changed Jokić’s publicly stated commitment to the franchise.
Panathinaikos move belongs in fantasy territory
European basketball is becoming increasingly ambitious, and Panathinaikos deserves credit for dreaming bigger than almost every other club.
There may even come a point late in Jokić’s career when returning to Europe appeals to him more than another NBA season.
That moment is unlikely to arrive in 2027.
Jokić has told everyone what he plans to do: wait until next summer, sign the largest contract in league history and remain with Denver for the rest of his career.
Panathinaikos can make another offer. Giannakopoulos can continue talking publicly about his dream signing.
Unless Jokić completely reverses his position and walks away from hundreds of millions of dollars, that dream is staying a dream.
