As the first center to win MVP since Shaq, Nikola Jokic has proved himself to be an extraordinary player.

While injuries and other factors ultimately helped Jokic win MVP honors, it was his brilliant offensive game that earned him the nod and helped the Nuggets earn the 3rd seed in the West.

But according to the Joker himself, he never imagined he'd even be playing at this level, much less winning the MVP.

“To be honest, I didn’t even think I would be in the NBA,“ Jokic said, via Arnie Stapleton of the Los Angeles Times. “My goal when I started to play basketball back home, it was playing in Euroleague because that was kind of the closest top league to my country.“

Still, when his name was ultimately called on draft night, he was ready from the jump.

“The Denver Nuggets drafted me, it was an opportunity for me to become an NBA player,“ Jokic said. “I think I did a good job of using that opportunity.“

From a kid hoping to make the Euroleague to becoming one of the best NBA players in the game, the Joker's journey to stardom has been quite a ride, and it's an amazing story to hear.

No doubt, it will be even better to see what he has in store for the future.