TORONTO (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Everything is just fine and dandy for NBA rookie Nikola Jokic of Serbia. Four days shy of his 21st birthday, he is one of the most promising players in the league.

Jokic needed just several months to prove he is going to make it in America. The 2.08m pivot has a soft shot and runs the floor well for a Denver Nuggets team that is trying to force its way into playoff contention.

Ask anyone and Jokic is making some teams look silly for not having taken him before his relatively low draft pick status of 41 in 2014.

Jokic, who started for the World team in the Rising Stars Challenge at the All-Star Weekend and had 12 points and eight rebounds, is indeed in a good place right now. He's a hard worker and making the most of the opportunity with Denver.

I feel really good right now. I am here to bring energy on the court and help my teammates. I think that the team is improving and that's great to see our progression day after day. I like to be a starter and I always give my best. Whenever I start or I come off the bench, I play with the same motivation. - Jokic

There have been adjustments to make. His biggest since leaving his team in Serbia, Mega Leks? Jokic laughs.

"Running, running, and running," he said to FIBA.com. "If you are a big man and you can run the floor, you have the potential to be a really good player. The pace of the game is completely different here from what I was used to. I am getting used to running more than ever, and I am still working on that aspect of my game."

There are plenty of things to work on, in fact. Jokic knows that defensively, he has some shortcomings.

"I want to be the most complete player I can be: be a good offensive and defensive player, a good rebounder, a good passer, and more than everything, help my teammates win games," he said.

Where Jokic is making a seamless transition is from the sometimes guarded atmosphere around in the media in Europe to the more relaxed setting in the NBA. He showed his sense of humor during the All Star Weekend festivities by interviewing San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina, the head coach of Italy's national team.

Denver are benefitting from the presence of Jokic and so will Serbia, eventually. The country has produced great players over the years that have featured for teams in America and Europe. A quarter of a century ago, a Serbian left home for the NBA and became an instant hit. That player was Vlade Divac.

Mostly big men that are good passers, such as Vlade Divac for example, inspired me. He was able to read the game before anyone and it was incredible to see him play. - Jokic

"I also like Boban Majranovic (San Antonio Spurs) a lot. He is so tall but he is very efficient as he can do everything on the court: shooting, passing, being a huge defensive presence and grabbing rebounds," Jokic said. "Serbia has always been good with big men and I want to learn from all the best ones we had."

Will international basketball see Jokic this summer? He could play for Serbia and there is plenty of incentive to do so. His country is hosting a FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade 4-9 July and the winner of that six-team event will clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

It's going to be huge for us. Playing at home is a great opportunity for us and we want to make the best of it. Having the entire country behind us would be an amazing feeling and we want to give everything to qualify for Rio 2016. - Jokic

"If I am part of the team, I will be super excited to play and help my teammates. We want to show the world that Serbia is back among the best basketball nations of the world. Everyone is dreaming about going to the Olympics and we want to make that dream come true."

On Saturday in Toronto, Jokic admitted to FIBA.com that everything is up in the air regarding the OQT.

"I don't know what is going to happen," he said. "I don't know if the team (Denver) will let me go or if I will be injured. I don't want to promise something to my country and then not do it. I just want to be patient with that and give it time. It would be a huge honor. The whole country would be watching us. They will (also) be good without me." 

Serbia (SRB) celebrate win over Germany at EuroBasket 2015

Jokic, however, believes that he already represents Serbia. He does so whenever he runs onto the court in the NBA.

"First, I am very proud to be in the NBA and represent my country in the best league of the world," he said. "We are having players who are making it here and walking in the steps of Vlade Divac, which is good for our country. People wake up at night to watch us play on TV, even if the time difference is huge. I am going to keep working hard to make my fellow compatriots proud of me. I am focused on the season so far and playing with the national team is a goal for me in the future."

FIBA