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The nickname ‘Joker’ for Nikola Jokic became evident for a simple reason: it offered an easy way to bypass the complexities of the NBA pronunciation guide. However, its true origin remained a mystery until Mike Miller stepped forward to take credit for inventing one of the most memorable monikers in basketball history.
During an episode of Podcast P hosted by Paul George, Miller, who was once Jokic’s teammate, disclosed that he was the pioneer behind calling the talented Serbian rookie ‘Joker’ when he was just starting with the Denver Nuggets.
“I recognized his potential,” Miller recounted, “I’m not going to claim I knew he would become the player he is now—that would be absurd. But I could see he had All-Star and Hall of Fame caliber talent.” He recalled that during preseason practice, it was clear to him that the Sombor native was the standout player on the Nuggets, just one year after the team selected him with the 41st pick in the draft in 2014.
“It was me,” Miller stated when asked about the origin of the popular nickname. “I dubbed him Joker because I found it easier to say, ‘Joker, pass the ball,’ instead of ‘Jokić, pass the f…ing ball.’ His playing style and personality really matched the ‘Joker’ theme.”
“I should have trademarked it,” he mused.
From 2015 to 2017, Miller concluded his playing career with the Nuggets alongside Jokic, witnessing firsthand the emergence of a player whose exceptional offensive and defensive skills were beginning to transform the game, as he also elevated the performance of his teammates.
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