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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has always been dubbed “The Joker,” but where did the moniker come from? Jokic’s former teammates recently revealed the story behind the nickname that struck with the Serbian star.
In a recent appearance on “Podcast P with Paul George ,” Mike Miller, who played with Nikola Jokic in his rookie season, revealed the origin story of how the Serbian star got his nickname “The Joker.”
“I gave him the nickname, ‘The Joker’ because I couldn’t say ‘Jokic, pass the f**king ball.’ So, I said, ‘Joker, pass the ball.’ His personality and the way he plays, it’s like a joker. … I literally couldn’t say Jokic fast enough, so Joker was it.”
Mike Miller reveals how he came up with Jokic’s ‘Joker’ nickname
“I literally couldn’t say, ‘Jokic past the f***ing ball.'”@Pick6 pic.twitter.com/mipyDrZXvQ
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) June 2, 2025
Mike Miller and Nikola Jokic were teammates on the Denver Nuggets during the 2015-2017 seasons. Miller was in the final years of his NBA career, while Jokic was just starting out as a rookie.
Nikola Jokic has won three NBA MVP awards in the 2021, 2022, and 2024 seasons. He led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship in 2023, earning NBA Finals MVP honors that year.
Free Agent Forward Questions Nikola Jokic’s All-Time Ranking in NBA History
Marcus Morris has stirred debate by claiming that Nikola Jokic is not among the top 20 greatest NBA players of all time. During an appearance on The Kevin O’Connor Show, Morris doubled down on his stance, stating that while Jokic is an exceptional player, he benefits from the current era of basketball.
He argued that the lack of dominant big men in the league has made Jokic’s path easier, pointing out that the Denver Nuggets star primarily faces Ivica Zubac and Joel Embiid a few times per season. Morris emphasized that the shift toward small-ball lineups has allowed Jokic to thrive without consistently facing elite centers.
Morris also took issue with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who recently called Jokic the best center he has ever seen. Kerr’s comments drew skepticism from Morris, who questioned how Jokic could be ranked above legends like Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He suggested that Kerr’s statement was exaggerated, arguing that past generations of centers faced tougher competition on a nightly basis. While Morris acknowledged Jokic’s impressive resume—an NBA championship, a Finals MVP, and three regular-season MVPs—he insisted that the Serbian star still has more to prove before being considered among the absolute best.
Despite Morris’ criticism, Nikola Jokic remains one of the most dominant players in today’s game. Whether he eventually earns a spot among the top 20 greatest players remains a topic of debate, but his impact on the league is undeniable.
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- The 'NBA's No. 1 draft picks' quiz
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