Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the president of Panathinaikos AKTOR, has become a talking point in the United States after revealing that his club made a serious attempt to sign Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. ESPN devoted a standalone report to the story, while Yahoo Sports also covered it extensively, telling NBA fans about the Greek club chief's plan to try again for the three-time MVP.
Giannakopoulos made the comments in an interview with Euro Insiders, and the remarks did not stay within European borders. His mention of Jokic, and in particular his disclosure that he had already submitted a serious offer to sign him, caused a stir in the United States.
The story quickly entered American sports coverage, since it concerns one of the NBA's biggest stars and the possibility, however unlikely it may seem, of him eventually leaving Denver for Europe.
ESPN's report on Panathinaikos and Jokic
ESPN gave particular weight to Giannakopoulos' comments, publishing a standalone report on Panathinaikos' effort to sign Jokic.
The American network detailed the revelation that an offer was made to the Denver Nuggets to buy out the final guaranteed season of the Serbian star's contract, as well as Giannakopoulos' intention to try again to bring him to Athens once he becomes available as a free agent.
In the same report, ESPN laid out the financial details of the case, noting that Jokic can become an unrestricted free agent next summer if he does not exercise the option he holds for the following season. The network also noted that from July 2027, Jokic will be eligible to sign a five-year, $359.5 million extension with the Nuggets, which it said would be the largest contract in NBA history.
Yahoo Sports also covers the story
Yahoo Sports also picked up the story, reporting the revelation that Panathinaikos had attempted to buy out Jokic's contract from the Nuggets.
The outlet focused in particular on Giannakopoulos' intention to make another attempt if the Serbian star reaches free agency, placing the matter at the center of the wider discussion around Jokic's future.
Coverage was not limited to those two outlets. Other American sports networks and websites picked up the story as well, a sign of the impression made in the United States by the prospect of a move that, under the NBA's current financial conditions, appears extremely difficult.
What Giannakopoulos said
The Panathinaikos AKTOR chief had said in his interview that the player he dreams of signing is Nikola Jokic, and insisted that his attempt was in no way a joke.
Giannakopoulos said the player he dreams of and has not yet signed, he will sign next year, and that it is Jokic, the best player in the world. He told people not to laugh at all, and said that if he does not bring Jokic in, he is not going anywhere. He said that this year he tried to make an offer, and told people to call Miško Ražnatović and ask him. He said people would say he was joking, but that he made a very serious offer this year, both to Jokic's team and to the player himself, and that it was rejected.
Giannakopoulos then explained that he had tried to buy out the final year of the Serbian's contract. He said he knew Jokic had one more year left on his contract and knew the numbers involved. He said he tried to buy out the last year of the contract, but the team did not even consider it, taking only a few seconds to respond with something like, who, Greece, what, goodbye. He said they should wait until next year, describing himself as a man of great highs and great lows.
The numbers behind Jokic's contract
The financial details explain why the story generated so much interest in the United States. According to ESPN, the 31-year-old Jokic has two seasons and a total of $121.8 million remaining on his current contract, with the second season being a player option.
The Serbian already has the right to a four-year extension worth $278 million, but has not committed to it, since waiting until 2027 would allow him to pursue the new five-year supermax extension worth $359.5 million.
Given those financial realities, the prospect of Jokic leaving the NBA for Panathinaikos appears extremely difficult. That, however, did not stop Giannakopoulos' revelation from becoming news in the United States and putting the Greek club's name into the American conversation about the future of one of the world's top players.
