There is no conventional formula to an NBA player establishing himself as a fan favourite. Some factors, like being a homegrown talent, can give a player an edge. Other aspects, like heart and hustle, earn bonus points in the minds of the people. What being a fan favourite means exactly cannot be calculated statistically, but it gives the player a sort of cultural capital. For example, Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams was never a star player in the NBA and only spent two years with the Raptors, but he has remained a household name and nostalgic figure in Toronto by virtue of his impact on the fans.
Suspension Journal: Enjoying Serge Ibaka’s unorthodox path to fan favourite
