Panathinaikos owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos shocked the basketball world by revealing he sent an official offer to the Denver Nuggets to buy out Nikola Jokić's contract. Although rejected within seconds, he announces a new attempt next year.
Greek businessman and Panathinaikos owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos has confirmed what many will call the craziest basketball story of the summer. Appearing on the Euro Insiders podcast, he revealed that this year he sent a very serious offer to the Denver Nuggets with the aim of bringing Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP and one of the best players today, to Athens.
"People will say, 'Okay, now he's joking.' But this year I sent a very serious offer to both his team and him. I got a rejection. I know he has one more year on his contract. It took the Nuggets just a few seconds to say: 'Who? Greece? Where? What? Goodbye.' But let's wait for next year," Giannakopoulos recounted Denver's reaction.
Giannakopoulos, whose wealth is estimated at $1.9 billion, admitted he miscalculated Jokić's contract situation. He thought the 31-year-old Serbian center was entering the final year of his contract, so he tried to buy out his deal. However, Jokić has two more seasons worth $121.8 million, with this season worth $59 million and the next $62.8 million.
"When I asked, he had an active contract. I thought it was his last year and I tried to buy it out. It only took them a few seconds to say: 'Who? Greece? Where? What? Goodbye,'" added the optimistic owner of the Athens club, announcing he will try again next year.
Although he became eligible in June to sign a four-year extension worth $278 million, Jokić has decided to wait. His explicit desire is to stay in Denver for the rest of his career, and by being patient, he opens the door to a historic deal. According to NBA analysts, in July 2027 he could sign a five-year extension worth as much as $359.5 million, which would become the largest contract in league history.
Giannakopoulos also confirmed his intention in a post on Twitter via the Basketball Sphere account, where he said: "There is one player who is my dream and whom I haven't signed yet; I will sign him next season: the best player in the world, Nikola Jokić! Don't laugh. Until I sign him, I'm not going anywhere. This year I tried to make an offer; ask Miško Ražnatović."
Although bringing Jokić is currently science fiction, Panathinaikos already has several former NBA players in its ranks. Kendrick Nunn, Juancho Hernangomez, Jerian Grant, and Guerschon Yabusele are part of a roster ready for European challenges this season. This isn't Giannakopoulos's first attempt to "steal" a Nuggets player-last summer he unsuccessfully tried to bring Jonas Valančiūnas, who eventually moved to Žalgiris Kaunas.
While Giannakopoulos dreams of a sensation, Denver's management remains completely calm. The Colorado franchise's priority is preparing the ground for 2027 and offering the largest contract in basketball history to ensure that Jokić, who has averaged a triple-double over the past two seasons, stays in Denver forever.
