Nikola Jokic has come a long way since the Denver Nuggets took him with the 41st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Since then, he’s become a star and a champion. Jokic has won three MVP awards for his prowess on the court. On the other hand, most fans recognize him by his on-court nickname, which was created by a colleague.
During his earlier years in the league, he had to team up with Mike Miller. The former NBA player spent his final two seasons in Denver in a veteran role with the team. At that time, Miller wasn’t the same player he once was and was limited to almost eight minutes of action.
The two-time champion played with a young Jokic, whom he immediately thought would become the team’s best player. However, the Serbian big man was unknown at that time, and Miller’s contribution helped him become recognized.
He appeared as a guest on “Podcast P with Paul George,” where he shared his experiences while in the league. According to Miller, he was the one who gave the Denver Nuggets star the nickname “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
Fans now associate the 2023 Finals MVP with the name Joker on and off the court. Even with his funny story, however, Miller still gave credit to Jokic for the work he’s put in to improve.
“I was always the first one, he was literally there every single day at the same time with the trainer Ogi in Denver,” Miller said.
“He’s a grinder in the gym and that’s why I think he’s the best player in basketball.”
Mike Miller saw the potential of the Denver Nuggets star as soon as he arrived
He may not be the most athletic or the loudest on the court. However, the Denver Nuggets star gets the job done, and it’s the reason why most people think of him as a great NBA star.
According to Miller, he saw that Jokic would become the best player for the Nuggets as soon as he saw him play during practice. The 2006 Sixth Man of the Year appeared as a guest on “Pardon My Take” and told head coach Michael Malone that the 6-foot-11 center would be the team’s best player.
“Coach [Mike] Malone and the Kroenke family, at the end of practice, they asked me, ‘So, what do you think?'” Miller continued. “I said, ‘I don’t know who that fat, ugly kid is over there, but he’s your best player and it’s not even close.'”
“I don’t know who that fat ugly player is over there. But he’s your best player and it’s not close”- Mike Miller seeing Jokic for the first time pic.twitter.com/CSvYbmnLi8
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) May 16, 2025
Miller was spot on with his prediction, as Jokic is regarded among the elite players in the NBA.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
