Nikola Jokic’s name has been floating around the wrong kind of rumor mill again, but the Denver Nuggets do not need to treat this one like a real threat.
Panathinaikos BC owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos said on the “Euro Insiders” podcast that he has already made a run at Jokic and plans to try again next offseason. Through BasketNews, Giannakopoulos said, “There is one player who remains a dream of mine, whom I haven't signed yet, but I will sign next year.
It's Jokic, the best player in the world," Giannakopoulos said (via BasketNews). "...
This year, I tried to make a proposal. ... People are going to say, 'OK, now he's joking'.
I did make a very serious proposal this year, both to his team and to him. I got a rejection. ...
Let's wait until next year.”
The Panathinaikos owner also said he made a “very serious offer” to Denver for Jokic.
It’s the kind of quote that grabs attention fast, especially with Jokic already in the middle of contract-extension chatter after turning one down in each of the past two offseasons. But this is where the story stops being dramatic and starts being simple: Jokic is not leaving the NBA for Greece.
Because he passed on those extensions, Jokic has positioned himself for a massive payday in the 2027 offseason. He will be eligible for a deal worth around $360 million over five years, which would set the NBA record for the largest contract ever. That is the number looming over all of this, and it makes the idea of him signing in the EuroLeague next year look impossible.
The only real concern for Denver would be a future NBA exit if the relationship with the organization sours during the 2026-27 season. But Panathinaikos trying to lure him away is not something the Nuggets need to lose sleep over.
Still, the attempt says plenty about Jokic’s stature. He is a three-time MVP, and while it would be a shock if he ever finished his career overseas, it is not hard to imagine someone like Giannakopoulos circling back later. For now, though, that dream is just that.
There have been NBA players who made the jump to EuroLeague clubs, but not at Jokic’s level and not in his prime. The closest comparison mentioned was Wilkins leaving the NBA for Panathinaikos, though that came much later in his career.
For now, Jokic is staying put. And Panathinaikos can keep dreaming.
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