Panathinaikos B.C. Owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos has openly declared his ambition to sign Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, attempting to lure the three-time MVP to Greece. This public courtship comes as the Nuggets are riding a three-game winning streak, including a 136-119 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on April 9, 2026.
Giannakopoulos told Serbian outlet Mozzart Sport that he resumed watching the NBA specifically to follow Jokic's career. He called the Nuggets center one of the top ten players in history. "I would love to see him in a Panathinaikos jersey, and I'm going to do whatever I can to try and do it," Giannakopoulos stated. He admitted, however, that NBA "politics" might block such a high-profile move overseas.
The owner's comments inject external drama into Denver's offseason narrative. Many analysts have labeled the Nuggets as one of the summer's biggest losers, predicting a step back in the Western Conference. Yet, the team's recent form tells a different story. Their last five games show a 3W-2L record, with consecutive wins over the Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns.
Financial realities make a transfer to Europe almost impossible for the foreseeable future. Jokic is under contract with Denver through the 2026-27 season, earning $59.033 million. He holds a $62.841 million player option for 2027. Next summer, he becomes eligible for free agency but can also sign a supermax extension with the Nuggets worth roughly $350 million over five years.
That potential deal would average about $70 million per season. Walking away from that sum, which exceeds his total career earnings to date, is not a realistic basketball decision. Jokic has already made over $300 million from his NBA career. While Giannakopoulos claims he can present a compelling offer, it couldn't match the financial scale of an NBA supermax contract.
The team's on-court performance provides strong counter-narrative to offseason pessimism. After a tough 125-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in May 2025, they bounced back with a 119-107 win over the same opponent two days later. More recently, they secured a solid 116-93 win against the Golden State Warriors on March 30, 2026, and edged the Phoenix Suns 125-123 on March 25.
Their three-game run was only briefly interrupted by a 125-118 loss in Memphis on March 19. The current winning streak, featuring that decisive 136-119 result over the Grizzlies, shows a team finding its rhythm. This form suggests the Nuggets' core, led by Jokic, remains highly competitive despite external noise.
Jokic faces a straightforward but significant decision next offseason. He can opt into his final year at $62.8 million, decline it to enter free agency, or sign the massive extension Denver will certainly offer. All credible basketball logic points to him remaining the franchise cornerstone. The speculation from Greece, while a public compliment to his global stature, doesn't align with the economic and competitive structures of modern basketball.
For the Nuggets, the focus is on maintaining their positive momentum. Integrating any new pieces around Jokic will be the real task for the coaching staff. The team's recent results prove they can score at a high level, putting up 136, 116, and 125 points in their last three victories. Keeping that offensive firepower while tightening their defense, after allowing 119 points in their latest win, will be the key to silencing the doubters for good.
