Mike Miller had a two-year stint with the Denver Nuggets, where he immediately saw Nikola Jokic’s potential.
There was a time when people did not know Nikola Jokic as a superstar. Most people see him as the Denver Nuggets‘ unstoppable giant. He was once a second-round pick trying his best to make the team.
Jokic needed veterans to support him, which is why Mike Miller played a big role in helping him develop. Miller was one of the first people to show full faith in the big man, which has paid off nowadays.
In 2025, Nikola Jokic is a three-time MVP, a Finals MVP, and is one of the league’s best players. That was not the case in the mid-2010s because he was still a lesser-known prospect from Serbia. Thankfully, the Nuggets believed in him, which is a result of people like Miller supporting him.
There was once a debate between him and Jusuf Nurkic for the starting center spot. Thankfully for Nuggets fans, the franchise chose Jokic, who has become their greatest-ever player. He became a transcendent star who broke statistical records throughout his career in Denver.
“I thought he was the best basketball player in the world… I’m three days late for camp. I get there, and I’m sitting with Coach Malone and the Kroenke family. I said, ‘I don’t know who that fat ugly player is over there. But he’s your best player, it’s not even close,’” Miller said on Pardon My Take.
“At that time, he had flaws, right, his body was not great… But I’ve never seen a ball hit a young kid’s hands like The Matrix. It just stops. The game is slow for him, for most young kids, the game is fast.”
Eventually, everyone caught on to what Miller was saying. Nikola Jokic developed into the core piece of the Nuggets team. He was Denver’s starting center, but he also became the primary playmaker.
The Serbian big man rapidly became one of the most unstoppable players in the league. He knew how to use his body in the post, but he also had a unique eye for a pass. That has made him one of the most dangerous players in the league, as he can always create something.
Miller was correct in his assessment because Jokic has secured his reputation. With his numerous accolades, it is safe to say he is one of the best centers ever. Miller might have been hyperbolic when he joined the Nuggets, but he got it right.
Jokic will remain one of the league’s best players for years to come. He is already one of the most dreaded matchups for defenders, and that will continue.
The Joker is still in his prime, so it is hard to determine where he falls in the all-time rankings. However, he has proven he deserves all the accolades he has received.
