NBABy Alex Putterman on

Spurs rookie Boban Marjanovic averages 7.4 minutes, 5.1 points, and three rebounds a game, yet the 7-foot-3-inch Serb has become something of a cult hero in San Antonio.

This phenomenon has never been demonstrated more clearly than in the haircut of one hardcore fan:

Marjanovic certainly seems to have captured Spurs fans’ imaginations (and everyone else’s, too, if you regularly follow NBA Twitter). But why?

What is it about this man that has so endeared him to basketball enthusiasts?

Here’s a brief prelude: The San Antonio Spurs are on pace to win 70 games. Halfway through the 82-game season, they are halfway to 70, at 35-6. San Antonio might not overtake the Golden State Warriors, but it might top the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers (69-13) and post the first 70-win season in franchise history.

Marjanovic — he’s commonly referred to as “BOBAN!” (yes, in all-caps) — is part of a feel-good run in San Antonio. That, however, is a tonal element of this season and the organization he plays for. It’s not something particular to him alone.

What is the magic of BOBAN? Let’s take a look:

1. He’s pretty good

Despite limited minutes, Marjanovic has been pretty productive. He actually has the highest PER in the NBA (well, technically behind Jordan Mickey, who has played six minutes on the season), one spot ahead of Steph Curry.

He also has some highlight plays on his reel.

2. His size

Then there’s the fact that Marjanovic is freaking huge. He’s listed at 7’3″ and 290 pounds, but he somehow looks even bigger on the court. Here’s a vine of him making fellow 7-foot-3-inch center Tibor Pleiss look like a small child.

Here’s a glimpse of Marjanovic swallowing a reporter’s normal-sized hand with his gigantic one.

3. His foreignness

In explaining Marjanovic’s appeal, we can’t discount his otherness. From Yao Ming to Kristaps Porzingis, we always get excited about slightly goofy European dudes taking the NBA by storm. They come from mysterious pasts, they have fun names, they look somewhat out of place on the court. Right or wrong, there’s no doubt we prefer a clumsy, oversized European giant with a four-syllable last name to a regular American who went to Kansas.

4. This vest

No explanation needed.

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.

View all posts by Alex Putterman