Denver Nuggets: The Power of Nicknames and the Current Top 5
By Tim Hart
#4 “The Joker” (Nikola Jokic)
Many became aware of the Nuggets’ 2014 second-round pick after his big game against the Spurs. The success of his rookie season has left Nikola Jokic as one of the Nuggets’ most promising young players.
His nickname as “The Joker”, or simply “Joker”, obviously stems from his Serbian surname phonetically; but, it also hints at something more.
His youth is deceiving. Noticeably apparent in his frame, Jokic looks like a kid. He is long, lean, and low on muscle-mass, but his play contrasts this, showcasing his surprising amount of maturity.
“Joker” has proven his serious potential, and caught the eyes of many, but he isn’t perfect.
His shot can use plenty of improvement, and his strength, obviously, needs to increase. Fortunately, these are two of the easiest issues to fix, as they simply come with time and practice.
That is not to say that Jokic is weak, or doesn’t have a shot; moreover, his youth and less-than-intimidating frame fooled many into underestimating his immediate potential in the league.
Jokes on them.
Next: #3