Panathinaikos Owner Proposes Buyout of Nikola Jokic’s Contract

Greek billionaire Dimitrios Giannakopoulos, owner of EuroLeague club Panathinaikos, announced on the “Euro Insiders” podcast that he submitted a formal proposal to the Denver Nuggets to purchase the final year of Nikola Jokic’s NBA contract. Giannakopoulos says the Nuggets rejected the offer within seconds. He added that he will renew the attempt when Jokic becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

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Jokic, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is under contract for the 2026-27 season at $59,033,114 and holds a $62,841,702 player option for 2027-28. The player option makes him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2027 offseason if he declines it. He became eligible to sign a four-year, $278 million max extension on June 14 (scheduled) but has repeatedly declined, stating his “idea and desire” is to remain in Denver. If he opts out, Jokic could command a five-year, $359.5 million super-max contract—the largest in NBA history.

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic remains ‘dream’ addition for Greek owner after failed contract attempt

• Current NBA salary (2026-27): $59.0 million; player-option salary (2027-28): $62.8 million.

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic remains ‘dream’ addition for Greek owner after failed contract attempt

• Potential NBA super-max (2027-28 onward): ? $359.5 million over five years.

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic remains ‘dream’ addition for Greek owner after failed contract attempt

• Highest European salary in 2025-26: $5.6 million (Vasilje Micic, Hapoel Tel Aviv).

CBS Sports

• Panathinaikos’ top European salaries: $5.3 million (Kendrick Nunn).

Dimitris Giannakopoulos reveals Panathinaikos made serious Nikola Jokic offer

The disparity illustrates the financial challenge Giannakopoulos would face in matching a NBA super-max offer.

Giannakopoulos sets his sights on Nikola Jokic for Panathinaikos next summer

Giannakopoulos described his proposal as “very serious,” emphasizing that he approached both the Nuggets and Jokic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic. He characterized the Nuggets’ reaction as an almost instantaneous dismissal. The Nuggets have not issued a public comment; Giannakopoulos’s account is the sole source for the rejection.

USA Today

He added that the choice of team rests with the Nuggets.

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• “People are going to say, 'OK, now he's joking,'” — Extended Reactions Dimitrios Giannakopoulos

ESPN

• “It took a few seconds [for the Nuggets] to say, 'Who? Greece? Where? What? Bye,'” — Extended Reactions Dimitrios Giannakopoulos

ESPN

• “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,” — Extended Reactions Dimitrios Giannakopoulos

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• “My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career,” — Nikola Jokic

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No official statement from the Denver Nuggets confirming or denying the buyout offer has been released, leaving the exact terms of Giannakopoulos’s proposal unverified. Additionally, the feasibility of a European club matching a $359 million NBA contract remains speculative; no financial details from Panathinaikos have been disclosed.

Dimitris Giannakopoulos reveals Panathinaikos made serious Nikola Jokic offer

• 2027 offseason: Jokic will be eligible for a record-breaking super-max extension with the Nuggets.

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic remains ‘dream’ addition for Greek owner after failed contract attempt

• 2027-28 season: Giannakopoulos has indicated he will revisit the buyout proposal once Jokic becomes an unrestricted free agent.

USA Today

The situation adds a unique bargaining element to Jokic’s pending free-agency negotiations, though the financial gap suggests the NBA offer will dominate the decision-making process.

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