Panathinaikos made a serious offer for Nikola Jokić — and plans to try again in 2027

Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos says the Greek club made a “very serious” attempt to sign Nikola Jokić from the Denver Nuggets this summer and intends to make another push for the three-time NBA MVP in 2027.

The revelation was reported by ESPN and BasketNews on Monday, August 10, with Giannakopoulos saying the club attempted to buy out the final year of Jokić's NBA contract but was rejected.

The story immediately raises one of the most extraordinary possibilities in modern European basketball: could one of the NBA's biggest stars eventually move from Denver to the EuroLeague?

For now, there is no agreement and no indication that Jokić is leaving the Nuggets. What is confirmed is that Panathinaikos made a serious offer, and its owner says the club intends to try again.

Panathinaikos wanted Nikola Jokić this summer

Giannakopoulos revealed that Panathinaikos approached both Jokić and the Nuggets with an offer to buy out the remaining year of his contract.

The attempt was unsuccessful.

According to ESPN, the Panathinaikos owner said he received a rejection but remains confident enough to publicly declare that the club will return to the pursuit next .

That distinction is important.

Nikola Jokić has not agreed to join Panathinaikos, and there is no confirmed transfer or contract between the player and the EuroLeague club.

This is currently a statement of intent from Panathinaikos' ownership, not a completed move.

Why 2027 is different

The timing of the proposed second attempt is significant.

Jokić's current contract situation means 2027 could provide a much more realistic opportunity for Panathinaikos to make its case.

ESPN reports that Jokić would become eligible in July 2027 for a five-year contract worth a projected $359.5 million with the Nuggets.

That would make the 2027 offseason a major decision point in the Serbian superstar's career.

Panathinaikos therefore appears to be thinking beyond the immediate opportunity.

Rather than simply trying to take Jokić away from Denver now, the club can wait until the next major stage of his contract situation and attempt to persuade him to consider European basketball.

Jokić remains committed to Denver for now

There is currently no verified indication that Jokić wants to leave the NBA.

That is crucial when assessing the story.

The Panathinaikos proposal should not be interpreted as evidence that the Denver Nuggets are preparing to lose their franchise player.

The offer was rejected, and Jokić remains a Nuggets player.

His future beyond the current contract situation will become clearer closer to 2027.

What Panathinaikos is trying to build

The ambition behind the move also reflects Panathinaikos' growing position in EuroLeague basketball.

The Athens club has invested heavily in its roster and has already demonstrated a willingness to pursue major NBA talent.

Signing Jokić, however, would be on an entirely different scale.

He is not simply another former NBA player who could become a EuroLeague star.

He is a three-time NBA MVP and one of the defining players of his generation.

A move to Athens would therefore represent one of the biggest transfers in the history of European basketball.

Could Jokić really play in the EuroLeague?

At this stage, that remains speculation.

The only confirmed development is Panathinaikos' attempt to sign him and its stated intention to try again.

There is no confirmed decision from Jokić to leave the NBA, nor has Panathinaikos announced a deal.

That means any discussion about a future Jokić Panathinaikos partnership should be treated as a possibility rather than an expectation.

The 2027 offseason could change that equation.

The financial challenge

Any attempt to bring Jokić to Europe would require an extraordinary financial commitment.

The NBA salary structure provides elite players with earning opportunities that European clubs generally cannot match in the same way.

That makes Panathinaikos' challenge about more than simply presenting a large offer.

The club would need to convince Jokić that playing in Athens offers something compelling beyond money.

That could include the competitive challenge, lifestyle, proximity to Serbia and the opportunity to become the face of one of Europe's biggest basketball clubs.

But none of those factors currently amount to evidence that Jokić intends to make the move.

Sevens Sports Arena analysis

The most fascinating part of this story is not whether Nikola Jokić is joining Panathinaikos in 2026 — he isn't.

It is what the revelation says about the ambition of the Greek club.

Panathinaikos was willing to approach the Nuggets while Jokić was still under contract. That demonstrates how seriously the organisation views the possibility of attracting an NBA superstar.

The rejection does not appear to have ended the idea.

Instead, Giannakopoulos is already looking towards 2027.

That creates a fascinating long-term storyline for Panathinaikos basketball, particularly if Jokić reaches the point where he can make a major decision about his NBA future.

For now, Denver remains his home.

But Panathinaikos has made its intentions clear.

And if the Greek club follows through on its promise to try again in 2027, one of the biggest EuroLeague transfer stories of the decade could already be taking shape.

What happens next?

The immediate situation is straightforward: Jokić remains with the Nuggets, while Panathinaikos waits.

The club's next serious opportunity could come during the 2027 NBA offseason, when Jokić's contract situation could give him greater freedom to determine his future.

Until then, there is no agreement to report.

But one thing is already clear.

Panathinaikos wants Nikola Jokić — and the club's owner says the pursuit is not over.