Mike Miller once fumbled his own last name, and out of that slip, The Joker was born—not the Gotham kind, but one who deals damage on hardwood, not dark alleys. Nikola Jokic doesn’t need face paint or a punchline to leave a mark. He’s all business and back at Ball Arena, aiming to turn a 2–1 lead into a dominant 3–1. The energy is electric, the fans are roaring, and the Serbian giant has checked in. But hold up—where’s the Joker costume?

On Friday, Nikola strolled into Ball Arena draped in a wild splash of purple and green, straight out of a comic book and right into the hearts of Denver fans. The Joker had arrived, grinning with purpose. But the real show began when the ball tipped. With the lights blazing and the Thunder striking early, Jokic turned chaos into control. Then came overtime. No capes, no tricks—just a cold-blooded 113 to 104 takedown in Game 3.

However, after the game, the 29-year-old Serbian big man criticized himself and said, “Their hands—they’re all over, you know. I mean, I miss 10 threes. I had an 8–3. They’re aggressive, they’re physical, they’re handsy, they’re in the string, they’re playing passing lanes, you know.” He further added, “I don’t know what they’re doing. Because if I know, probably I’m not going to make those kind of mistakes. I need to figure out what they’re doing. Basically, I was the worst player on the court today, but we won the game. And that’s the most important.” After chipping in 20 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, Jokic had to call himself the worst player.

Now, coming back to Game 4, as we said, Nikola Jokic has checked in, and this time he’s not in his Joker costume. Fans have picked on this and the unusual self-criticism all at once. And it looks like social media once again has blown up with the most witty reactions ever.

Fans breathe a sigh of relief as Nikola Jokic’s behavior shifts

“Thank you for not coming in a Joker suit again,” a fan commented on X. Well, it looks like the NBA community isn’t particularly a fan of the Joker showing up in a Joker suit. Well, the fans have always been a fan of Nikola Jokic’s simplicity; therefore, seeing him in a regular suit felt ‘normal’.

Meanwhile, another fan wrote, “Thank you for not feeding the Joker gimmick.” Surely, this feels like a hint of sarcasm for keeping the focus on Nikola Jokic’s game rather than turning his nickname into a comic-book circus. It’s a thank-you for not overhyping the persona and letting his performance speak louder than the theatrics.

Nikola Jokic set aside his playful Joker persona and got serious on the court. Focused and ready, he’s set to deliver a dominant 30-point triple-double, a breeze for a superstar averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists this season. So, a fan chipped in:

“Dropped the Joker gimmick, 30 point Triple double incoming.”

“Bro stay dressin Simple Classy (Sharp),” another fan added. The message for the Denver Nuggets superstar is simple here: he must keep his style clean and effortless. Nothing loud, just sharp and smooth. Simple looks that speak class every time he shows up.

Lastly, someone said,

“Exactly how you report to work.” Those basic grey formals and white sneakers seem to be the classic Nikola Jokic style statement. After complaining about missing threes and feeling like the worst player in Game 3, Jokic aims to erase that in Game 4. Because the Joker is back, only without his costume this time.

So, Jokic has shed the Joker costume, leaving the theatrics behind to focus purely on his game. Fans are relieved, applauding the simplicity that defines him both on and off the court. With a 30-point triple-double ahead, the Serbian giant is set to silence doubts and prove his brilliance outshines any gimmick.

As Game 4 approaches, it’s clear—the Joker’s real power lies in his performance, not his costume.