Wilkins Leaves Celtics to Sign for Greek Club

ATHENS — Dominique Wilkins has left the Boston Celtics to sign with a professional team in Greece.

Panathinaikos Athens said Saturday it had signed the 6-foot-8 forward. Press reports said Wilkins, 35, signed a two-year contract for $7 million, the richest contract for a player outside the NBA.

Wilkins had two years remaining on his contract with the Celtics, but his contract contained a buyout clause.

Recently, Wilkins was involved in a dispute with the team over an $8.4-million loan he claimed he was owed. Because of the NBA lockout, the team said he was not entitled to the money.

Drafted in 1982 by Utah, Wilkins played more than 11 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Clippers in 1994 for Danny Manning.

His best season was 1985-86, when he led the NBA in scoring with 30.3 points a game.

Panathinaikos and its archrival Olympiakos are Greece’s two major teams. In the last two seasons, Panathinaikos finished third in the European Championship behind Olympiakos.