Greek Tycoon Has 'Serious' Jokic Offer Rejected — And He's Already Planning Another Run

Greek basketball royalty just knocked on Denver’s door with a Brinks truck — and got slammed in the face. But the guy holding the checkbook? He’s already lacing up for Round 2.

Dimitrios Giannakopoulos, the combustible owner of Panathinaikos, says he made a legit run at Nikola Jokic this summer. Not a tweet. Not a pipe dream. A “very serious proposal” — to both the Nuggets and the big man himself.

“People are going to say, ‘OK, now he’s joking,’” Giannakopoulos told the Euro Insiders podcast. “I did make a very serious proposal this year both to his team and to him. I got a rejection. I know that he has one more year of a contract.”

The small print

Jokic is technically locked in for two more seasons and $121.8 million. But that second year is a player option, meaning the Joker could hold all the cards and enter unrestricted free agency next summer.

Denver has already tried to lock him up long-term. Jokic became eligible for a four-year, $278 million max extension on June 14 but hasn’t signed. His public stance? “Idea and desire” to stay in Denver for the rest of his career. But he’s also playing the financial long game.

If Jokic stays patient, the Nuggets can offer him a five-year, $359.5 million extension in July 2027 — the largest contract in NBA history, per ESPN cap guru Bobby Marks.

Denver’s response? Cold.

Giannakopoulos says the Nuggets didn’t waste any time shutting down the Greek invasion.

“It took a few seconds [for the Nuggets] to say, ‘Who? Greece? Where? What? Bye,’” he said.

He’s not hiding the rejection, either. He told the podcast hosts to call Jokic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic, and ask whether the proposal was real.

This isn’t his first Euro rodeo

Giannakopoulos has form in this arena. Last summer, he tried to pry Jonas Valanciunas away from the Nuggets. The rumors reached a boiling point before Valanciunas ultimately played the season in Denver and then left for Lithuanian powerhouse Zalgiris Kaunas this summer.

The guy keeps swinging.

Denver’s summer

The Nuggets haven’t been sitting around. They added veteran big Marvin Bagley III, matched Spencer Jones’ two-year, $12 million offer sheet from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and are still working through restricted free agency with Peyton Watson. The roster stays pricey but intact.

The Joker isn’t going anywhere soon. But Giannakopoulos is already circling 2027 with a fresh pitch.

Call it a joke if you want. Just ask the Nuggets — they’re not laughing.