Panathinaikos owner says club made a serious offer for Nikola Jokic

The offer and agent confirmation

Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos recently admitted he made a genuine attempt to sign Nikola Jokic, and the player’s long-time agent has backed up that claim. Giannakopoulos said he presented an offer both to the Denver Nuggets and directly to Jokic, stressing it wasn’t a joke but a serious bid to bring the star to Athens.

Jokic’s agent confirmed the owner’s version of events to Greek media, saying the offer did arrive and was considered. Giannakopoulos has long been an outspoken admirer of the three-time NBA MVP and has publicly entertained the idea of signing him for some time.

Why the move is unlikely — but not impossible

Despite the attempt, a transfer remains highly improbable. Jokic is firmly established as the centerpiece of the Nuggets, and the financial gulf between NBA contracts and what even top EuroLeague clubs can offer is enormous. Those practical realities make a move to Europe very difficult.

Still, Giannakopoulos indicated he isn’t giving up and plans to try again in the future. For now, Jokic continues to dominate in Denver: in the 2025/26 season he averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game, numbers that underline why an NBA club would be reluctant to let him go.

Whether another bid will come, and how the Nuggets and Jokic might respond next time, will be one of the more intriguing offseason storylines to watch.