Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic may have become one of the eminent faces of the NBA, but because of former teammate Mike Miller, he has acquired a villainous nickname.
Dubbed "The Joker," Jokic has been unbelievable this postseason. He's averaging a triple-double in the playoffs heading into the NBA Finals at 29.9 points per game, 13.3 rebounds per game, and 10.3 assists per game. He and Jamal Murray have been a fearsome duo in the playoffs, but his nickname comes from a somewhat unexpected source.
Former Nugget Mike Miller coined the name for Jokic, who gave it his approval thereafter. Because of Miller's issues with pronouncing "Jokic" (pronounced "Yo-kitch"), he decided to go for a more Americanized nickname, coining him "The Joker."
The nickname has had some serious longevity, with it seemingly winning out over the likes of "Big Honey" and "The Cookie Monster" when Jokic nicknames are brought up.
What is Nikola Jokic's nickname?
Jokic's nickname is "Joker."
He shares the name with the DC Comics supervillain and arch-nemesis of Batman, although that isn't the inspiration. The nickname, in fact, is already taken by another Serbian athlete, Novak Djokovic, who goes by Joker or "Djoker."
Why is Nikola Jokic called "Joker?"
Jokic's nickname can be credited to former Nugget Mike Miller, who simply was having trouble pronouncing Jokic's name.
Miller tweeted the nickname in 2019, but it traces back further.
Miller's nickname that he made up, seemingly for his own convenience, has now become nearly ubiquitous for Jokic.
In addition, but perhaps secondarily to the proximity of the names, Jokic is also very funny around his teammates, which may have contributed to the nickname.
Other Nikola Jokic nicknames
Joker may be the one that stuck, but it's not the only nickname Jokic has had.
He was also dubbed "Big Honey" by former teammate Will Barton but he passed on it, saying he liked the Joker nickname more.
Jokic has also been called The Cookie Monster, although that one never carried much popularity.