Breaking: Former Lakers & Heat Center Thomas Bryant Makes Intriguing Free Agent Choice

After eight seasons as a backup center in the NBA, Thomas Bryant wasn't getting any solid offers in free agency, so he's apparently decided to take his talents overseas to the EuroLeague, with Panathinaikos of Greece.

Thomas Bryant is close to an overseas contract agreement with EuroLeague’s Panathinaikos, per @TelesportRS (https://t.co/dnHJlEkEKm).

Greece’s Panathinaikos is now pivoting to pursue Bryant after the Nuggets did not allow Jonas Valanciunas a buyout opportunity. pic.twitter.com/YvaacmNbHP
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 27, 2025

Panathinaikos originally thought they had a deal to woo longtime NBA starter Jonas Valanciunas to play the post, but the Denver Nuggets refused to let him out of his NBA contract, so the Greek team has moved to Bryant to fill the role.

Bryant spent time last season with the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, while he's also spent time with the LA Lakers on two occasions, the Denver Nuggets, and the Washington Wizards.

Bryant averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 boards for the Heat and Pacers last season in 66 games, playing an average of 14.6 per night. His best run came with the Lakers in 2022-23, when, in 41 games, he averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds while playing over 21 minutes a contest, and even starting 25 of those games.

His per-36 minutes numbers in his career are 18 points per game and 10.4 boards with 1.4 blocked shots.

The now-28-year-old was a second round pick of the Utah Jazz in the 2017 NBA Draft.