Nikola Jokic was named MVP of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament after leading the Serbian national team to the 2016 Olympics.
Jokic was unstoppable on offense throughout the entire tournament, and averaged 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in the four games he played. Jokic capped off the tournament with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the championship game against Puerto Rico.
Nuggets fans that tuned in for Jokic's rookie season shouldn't have been surprised by what the rest of the FIBA teams saw in the tournament. The Serbian team's offense was excellent, and Jokic was a big part of that. His ability to put the ball on the floor, pass, rebound, and score efficiently gave his team an elite option to turn to for 20 minutes a game.
It was an amazing set of games for Jokic, especially considering this is the first time the 21-year-old has played in the tournament.
Serbia bolted out to a 37-7 lead in the championship game, essentially putting the game out of reach for J.J. Barea and his teammates before the end of the first quarter. Jokic was a +38 in a 108-77 victory, just an amazing performance by the young center.
Game after game Jokic showed off great chemistry with his teammates, including Bogdan Bogdanovic, whose rights are held by the Sacramento Kings. He may be the only player on the team that can't grow a beard, but he was playing at a different level against much more experienced players.
If Jokic is able to improve his conditioning so that he is able to play 30 minutes a night, he should be a threat for a double-double every night, while also helping lead the Nuggets offense through the post. Tim Connelly and the Nuggets definitely found a diamond in the rough.