Panathinaïkos missed a chance for Montero

Sani Bečirovič, former sports director of Panathinaïkos and currently with Zenith Saint-Pétersbourg, revealed in an interview with Arena Sport that the Greek club had the opportunity to sign Jean Montero during his first season in Athens. The proposal came after Luca Vildoza's injury, prompting the club to seek reinforcements in the perimeter.

Agent suggested Montero as a solution

An agent close to Bečirovič proposed the young Dominican point guard, who was still playing in the Spanish league at the time. The transfer, however, did not materialize, and Bečirovič later admitted he may not have been forceful enough in convincing the coach and club president, Giannakopoulos, to invest in Montero.

Club focused on immediate success

At the time, the club's main goal was to return Panathinaïkos to its former glory, and the new management needed immediate results, making it difficult to take a risk on a developing player. Bečirovič expressed regret over not securing Montero's signature, calling it one of his biggest regrets during his tenure at the club.

Panathinaïkos won EuroLeague without Montero

Interestingly, Panathinaïkos went on to win the EuroLeague in 2024 without Montero. Since the missed opportunity, Montero has significantly evolved, moving to Andorra and Valencia before becoming one of the most prominent players in European basketball.

Montero's rise and new chapter

During the 2025-2026 season, he won the Spanish league with Valencia and received several individual awards, including being elected Rising Star and part of the EuroLeague's best five. He finished the season with an average of 14.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. In July 2026, he signed with Olympiakos, now playing for his main rival in Athens.