Send in the Clowns
On October 4th we’ll see the unveiling of a new Joker in his very own movie. We’ve had many different versions of the clown over the years. But the one most NBA fans have grown fond of can be found making crisp passes hidden away in the Rocky Mountains.
Nikola Jokić’s time playing the Joker was short-lived, soon after the draft, Jared Leto took up the mantle with his own rendition of the clown in David Ayers “Suicide Squad”. Leto was disappointing, to say the least with his portrayal, but fortunately, Jokić was there to pick up where he left off, even though the seven-foot center from Serbia didn’t have the acting experience of a Leto or a Nicholson he did his best with what he had. Leading his Denver Nuggets to second in the West and a second-round exit in the 2018-19 playoffs, something Leto, Nicholson, or even Ledger never accomplished with their time as Joker.
Joaquin Phoenix has been cast as the newest Joker for this upcoming movie. What does that mean for 
Jokić does he hang up his larger than normal shoes, put away his water-squirting flower, return his jars of white makeup to his closest Spirit Halloween store? No mainly because after you open clown makeup you can’t return it. My questing to no one, in particular, is why, why can’t there be more than one Joker? Why can’t there be more than one Joker in Gotham and more than one in the league?
Every few years we see a new type of player emerge in the NBA, with new play styles come new names for each style. Good shooters are labeled, Sharpshooters, Centers that can block shots and catch alley-oops are, rim runners, perimeter defenders that can shoot are, 3 & D guys, etc.
I believe we’re about to see the emergence of a new breed of player, The JOKER. A center that can run your offense. Nikola Jokić is known for his playmaking ability at his position. He was top 10 in the league averaging 7.3 ast. Per game last season. Ben Simmons at 6’10” is one of the best point guards in the league right now, these aren’t even the first appearances of a joker in the NBA, Magic Johnson was a Joker before we even had a name for it, even though magic wasn’t as big as Ben or Nikola he was still much larger than most point guards and could defend other team’s centers.
Other players are on the border of Joker territory but may never break through are Draymond Green and Al Horford. Dray is the next closest thing to a Joker but he’s not as dominant at the rim or as important to the offense that you expect from a Joker. But Al Horford newly acquired Center/Power Forward for the Sixers has the ability to become a Joker. If the team were to have two jokers with Ben running off-ball and Al at the top of the key, for a few sets this could be an offense play style the NBA has never seen before.
Picture this Ben Simmons of ball under the basket, Embiid At the elbow, Mike Scott in the corner, and Tobias Harris in the other corner, and Horford at the top of the key. Wow, that’s a big five that I don’t even know how to defend, forcing other teams to put whoever guards Simmons under the basket sounds like a nightmare for others but a dream for us.
Al Horford is known for making plays from the paint, he’s always making the right play and the extra pass. This season I would love to see him running the offense from the top of the key. The Sixers spent this offseason loading up on thick boys, if they’re not prepared to experiment with their top-heavy lineup this season then they won’t be beating any of the smaller faster and better shooting teams, when the playoffs roll around, but playing smarter and taking advantage of the teams’ strengths (their literal strength), could be the difference-maker for the Sixers this season.
Playmaking bigs could be the way of the future for the NBA, keep your eyes open for the next Joker.
