Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the owner of the Greek professional basketball team Panathinaikos, recently revealed that he made a formal attempt to bring NBA superstar Nikola Jokic to his club. According to reports, the team attempted to buy out the remainder of Jokic's current NBA contract for the upcoming season, though the effort was unsuccessful.

Jokic, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is currently under contract with the Denver Nuggets. Giannakopoulos publicly expressed his ambition to sign the Serbian center once he reaches free agency in the summer of 2025. While the owner has been vocal about his interest and the seriousness of his offer, there has been no indication from Jokic or his representatives that he is considering a departure from the NBA.

This development highlights the growing financial and competitive ambitions of top-tier European basketball clubs, which are increasingly looking to attract global talent. However, the move remains speculative, as Jokic remains one of the highest-paid and most integral players in the American professional league. The Nuggets have not issued a formal response to the claims made by the Greek club owner, and the feasibility of such a move remains a subject of debate among basketball analysts given the significant salary disparity between the NBA and international leagues.