Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the proprietor of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, has once again openly declared his profound aspiration to acquire Nikola Jokic, the acclaimed athlete from the Denver Nuggets. Undeterred by an earlier refusal from both the player and his current team, Giannakopoulos remains steadfast in his goal, committing to a renewed pursuit in the upcoming year, fully cognizant of the immense financial implications of such a monumental transfer.
Giannakopoulos, in a candid discussion on the Euro Insiders podcast, articulated his long-standing ambition, stating, "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." He further emphasized his unwavering resolve with a resolute, "Don’t laugh at all. If I don’t sign Jokic, I’m not going anywhere." This bold declaration highlights the extraordinary lengths he is prepared to go to secure the Serbian center's services for his Greek club.
During the podcast, Giannakopoulos divulged that Panathinaikos had indeed initiated contact with both Jokic and the Nuggets in the current year. He elaborated, "This year, I tried to make a proposal. … People are going to say, ‘OK, now he’s joking’. I did make a very serious proposal this year, both to his team and to him. I got a rejection." This initial endeavor included exploring the possibility of buying out the remaining portion of Jokic’s contract, a notion that was promptly dismissed by the Denver organization. Giannakopoulos recounted their swift response, recalling, "When I asked, he had a certain contract running. This was his last year. I tried to buy out his last year. They didn’t even… It took them a few seconds to say, ‘Who? Greece? Where? What? Bye’ from his team." Despite this outright refusal, the Panathinaikos owner concluded with a hopeful, "Let’s wait until next year."
The financial implications of signing Jokic are undeniably vast. The three-time NBA MVP is projected to be eligible for a staggering five-year, $359.5 million extension with the Nuggets in 2027, and he has consistently expressed his intention to remain with the Denver franchise. These significant contractual obligations and Jokic's clear preference for his current team present considerable obstacles to Giannakopoulos's ambition. However, the Greek owner's determination appears undiminished, suggesting that he views these challenges not as insurmountable barriers, but as temporary hurdles in his relentless pursuit of the world's top basketball player.
Giannakopoulos's public statements underscore a persistent and ambitious drive to bring Nikola Jokic to Panathinaikos. Despite encountering immediate resistance and facing substantial financial considerations, his resolve to revisit the endeavor next year signals a deep-seated commitment to making this high-profile acquisition a reality for the Greek basketball powerhouse.
