Why the NBA world is enthralled with Kristaps Porzingis - the Knicks' 20-year-old, 7-foot-3 Latvian rookie

New York Knicks rookie big man Kristaps Porzingis has been one of the brightest stars of this year's stacked rookie class.

Coming into the season, Porzingis was a giant unknown - a 7-foot-3, 20-year-old from Latvia who had the height and length of a center, the shooting ability of a guard, and the athleticism of a forward.

While the NBA world was high on him, Porzingis was deemed a project. He needed to put on weight, and on top of being new to the NBA, would need time to craft his unique array of skills into a workable blend.

Instead, Porzingis has played a big part on a surprisingly decent Knicks team, and has produced several impressive highlights just nine games into his NBA career.

Between his incredible size, surprising production, jaw-dropping potential, and overall mystique, here's why the NBA world is so enthralled with Porzingis.