As he stands today, Steven Adams is a seven-foot-tall New Zealand native with tribal tats, a vicious man bun, and a Tom Selleck–inspired ’stache. (More on that later.) But just a couple years ago, Steven was a gangly kid with an overgrown crewcut and some light stubble above his lip. If looking the part of an intimidating NBA center is what it took to be just that, then, well, it’s worked out pretty damn well for the guy. But what led to the grown-out hair and the throwback mustache? We went to the source to find out.

When did you decide to grow out your facial hair? Why just a ’stache?

I started the experiment last season. I did a mustache for the first time, but that didn’t last long. And at the start of this season, I grew out my facial hair because I actually could. I guess I went through puberty, so now that’s a thing. So that’s brilliant. I stuck with a mustache because...do you know Magnum P.I.?

Like Tom Selleck?

Yeah. Idol. He is brilliant. I wanted to go more in his direction, which is a lot of just testosterone and man. I can’t compete with him yet, so that’s why I’m taking a more elegant approach with the wax.

Your hair is also long now. What led to you growing it out?

I think I look really weird with short hair. So I figured if I’ve got a mustache, I think it looks less creepy with long hair. Like a wild look.

When’s the last time you got it cut?

Was it last Christmas? I just let it go, now it’s Forrest Gump–level kind of thing. So basically two years ago, I guess.

"I don’t actually do it for the ladies, it’s more a guy thing, an appreciation. All the dudes want to do it, but they don’t have the balls to do it, so they just give me the nod."

How often do you wash your hair, and what do you wash it with?

I wash it every second day, and I use Kérastase shampoo and conditioner. I just stick to that. But I also have a mustache comb, and I shampoo and condition my mustache as well.

What does the mustache comb look like?

It’s so tiny. You could easily lose it. You could almost use a toothbrush, honestly. But yeah, mustache comb is, like, the legit title for it. I got it online, it’s brilliant.

Who makes the wax you sometimes use on your mustache?

I forget the name of it, but it’s hand-crafted mustache wax. It’s scented as well with sandalwood and rosemary. It smells awesome. Ahh, smells great.

Do you get whiffs of it during the game?

That’s what keeps me motivated, mate. Keeps me pumped.

You’ve gotta take one of those old-timey photos wearing a three-piece suit and a monocle.

Yeah, I was telling these guys here that if GQ wants to do a photo shoot, I’ve got it all planned out. I have everything from the fireplace, the bearskin rug, everything.

How have women responded to the longer hair and ’stache?

Good, mixed, but mostly on the positive side. I seem to get a general reaction at just, like, “Oh! A mustache!” but mostly people are fine with it. But I don’t actually do it for the ladies, it’s more a guy thing, an appreciation. All the dudes want to do it, but they don’t have the balls to do it, so they just give me the nod.

So one way or the other, it hasn’t helped or hurt that much with women?

No, I think it’s helped a lot more. There’s just something different about it.

Do people think you look older than 22 now that you have the ’stache?

Yeah, they think I’m, like, 30 or something. Some old number.

Does that bother you?

No, not at all. It just gives me a bigger market to work with, ’cause the older ladies come my way, too, mate.

How often since you’ve had the mustache and hair have people compared you to Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones?

It actually happened last summer when I was in Croatia. I spent my summer there, and everyone there kept coming up to me and asking me for photos because they thought I was the guy from Game of Thrones. It kind of bummed me out a little bit, actually, because I thought for a minute they had Thunder fans in Croatia. But then they were like, “Thanks, Khal Drogo!” and I was like, “Who in the bloody hell is Khal Drogo?” But actually, looking like him has actually helped me out at a lot of clubs and stuff. V.I.P. treatment.