Could it be a sign? The Denver Nuggets have had "The Joker" on their team for the last 11 years. Not the Steve Miller Band-style Joker, nor the movie character from the Batman films. No, just our very own three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who was given the nickname his rookie season. Now Jokic won't have to look very far to see not one, but two more "Jokers" running around after the Nuggets added veteran DeMar DeRozan and rookie second-round draft pick Trevon Brazile this offseason.
Both DeRozan and Brazile have a tattoo of the Heath Ledger incarnation of the iconic movie character The Joker. DeRozan's is prominently displayed on his right shoulder. Big and bold. You can't miss it.
Brazile's Joker tattoo is just under his right elbow, and his tattoo prominently features The Joker holding a Joker card like the kind you see in a deck of playing cards. What are the chances? Is it a sign of a fourth MVP to come for Jokic? Are the three Jokers what it will take to get a second championship? It's just a random coincidence, but fans can still hope it's a sign for something more.
Jokic's been the Joker since nearly day one in Denver
It was former Nuggets veteran Mike Miller who coined Jokic as Joker during his rookie season. Miller thought it was too slow to say "Yo-kitch" when he was calling for the ball. So he changed it to Joker, and it stuck. That's it. Such a simple backstory to what has become a nickname synonymous with Jokic in NBA circles.
But it's almost fitting that Jokic became the Joker because of his style of play. For many, the Joker in the deck is the wildcard. And Jokic is certainly a wildcard by NBA standards. The greatest second-round pick in NBA history turned out to be one of the most well-rounded NBA players to ever play the game.
There aren't many, if any, centers that could pass like a point guard the way Jokic does. And his leading the league in both rebounds and assists this past season, a feat no one has accomplished before, serves as one of the biggest reminders of his wildcard status.
As far as I can remember, this is the first time Jokic has had a teammate with a Joker tattoo. And now he has two teammates with one.
Of course, that's how it happened, because there are two Jokers in each deck of cards. How fitting! It must be a sign of good things to come for the Nuggets in 2026-27.
Add us as a preferred source on Google