After spending half the season in the NBA, Nigel Hayes-Davis has returned to Europe, agreeing to sign with Panathinaikos, writes Johnny Askouinis of Eurohoops. Owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos confirmed the deal on social media and stated that Hayes-Davis’ new contract will run through 2028.
The Greek team won the bidding war for Hayes-Davis after reportedly having its offer turned down early in the process. Hapoel Tel Aviv and Fenerbahce in Istanbul were the other top contenders.
The deal has a total value of $10MM, club sources tell Askounis, which will make Hayes-Davis the third-highest-paid player in Europe. He trails only Hapoel’s Vasilije Micic and new teammate Kendrick Nunn, two other former NBA players.
Hayes-Davis, a 31-year-old small forward, was a star in Europe for seven years, earning Final Four MVP honors last spring while helping Fenerbahce capture the EuroLeague championship. He saw brief action with the Lakers, Raptors and Kings early in his career after going undrafted out of Wisconsin, but only appeared in nine total games before deciding to head overseas in 2018.
Hayes-Davis returned to the NBA in July, signing a one-year, minimum-salary contract with Phoenix, but he only averaged 7.2 minutes per night in 27 games. He became a free agent after being traded to Milwaukee at last week’s deadline and waived a day later.