TJ Shorts is finalizing an agreement with Panathinaikos, with BasketNews sources indicating the EuroLeague star is already preparing to move to Athens ahead of an expected deal. Meanwhile, there’s growing belief within the market that Georgios Papagiannis could also return to the club this summer.
TJ Shorts, one of the top candidates in this year’s EuroLeague MVP race, is finalizing a deal to join Panathinaikos Athens, multiple sources tell BasketNews.
Georgios Papagiannis
| MIN: | 16.51 |
| PTS: | 7.28 (64.88%) |
| REB: | 3.41 |
| As: | 0.52 |
| ST: | 0.48 |
| BL: | 1.34 |
| TO: | 0.62 |
| GM: | 29 |
According to sources, the 27-year-old point guard, listed at 1.75 meters, is already preparing to move to Athens ahead of an expected deal.
Sotiris Vetakis was the first to report that TJ Shorts is headed to Panathinaikos.
Panathinaikos is also expected to be active elsewhere in the market.
BasketNews sources indicate that momentum is building around the idea of Panathinaikos reuniting with Georgios Papagiannis.
Around the league, many believe the 27-year-old Greek center is already deep in discussions about a potential return to Athens.
Shorts was the most efficient offensive engine in the EuroLeague this season. He led all players in total points created through both scoring and assists, generating 36.8 points per gams, per BBallytics.
That was well ahead of the next-best player—his potential future teammate Kendrick Nunn—who averaged 29.9 points created.
In his debut EuroLeague season, Shorts averaged 19.0 points per game while shooting 52% on two-pointers and 36.1% from beyond the arc. He also added 2.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, finishing with a 22.8 average Performance Index Rating (PIR).
This past season, Papagiannis averaged 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and an 8.8 PIR in under 17 minutes per game in Monaco.
After not appearing in the first four games of the playoff series against Barcelona, Papagiannis delivered a standout performance in Game 5.
In just 19 minutes, Papagiannis scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds, and blocked one shot, while going a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, in a crucial win that pushed Monaco to the Final Four.
 | Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | |
| Position | Player | Status |
| PG | Jerian Grant | Signed until 2026 |
| PG | Lorenzo Brown | Signed until 2027 |
| PG | Dimitris Moraitis | Signed until 2026 |
| SG/PG | Kostas Sloukas | Signed until 2026 |
| SG | Kendrick Nunn | Signed until 2028 |
| SG | Marius Grigonis | Signed until 2027 |
| G/F | Neoklis Avdalas (on loan) | Signed until 2027 |
| SG/SF | Panagiotis Kalaitzakis | Signed until 2027 +1 |
| SF | Ioannis Papapetrou | Signed until 2025 |
| SF | Cedi Osman | Signed until 2027 |
| PF | Juancho Hernangomez | Signed until 2027 |
| PF | Dinos Mitoglou | Signed until 2026 |
| PF | Lefteris Mantzoukas (on loan) | Signed until 2025 |
| PF/C | Alexandros Samodurov | Signed until 2028 |
| C | Mathias Lessort | Signed until 2028 |
| C | Wenyen Gabriel | Signed until 2025 |
| C | Omer Yurtseven | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| C | Tibor Pleiss | Signed until 2025 |
| Coach | Ergin Ataman (signed until 2027) | |
| Expiring contract | Wenyen Gabriel, Ioannis Papapetrou, Tibor Pleiss, Lefteris Mantzoukas | |
| Rumored to leave | Tibor Pleiss (back to Trapani Shark), Lorenzo Brown | |
| Interested | TJ Shorts (story), Georgios Papagiannis (story), Dante Exum, Vassilis Toliopoulos | |
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens / Schedule
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
Olympiacos PiraeusMore Panathinaikos transfer news:
- TJ Shorts expected to join Panathinaikos, another target linked to club
- Panathinaikos sports director confirms interest in TJ Shorts
- Kostas Antetokounmpo departs Panathinaikos
- Panathinaikos keep Lessort long-term
- Cedi Osman officially extends his contract with Panathinaikos
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