But it’s still arresting to go to one of these events and talk to some of the guests. Like the ambassador, who invites Gortat to his birthday parties, described him as Poland’s second most popular athlete (after Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski) and considers him a personal friend.

“He’s a great man, not only because he’s so tall, but spiritually he wants to share his success,” the ambassador said. “He represents Poland. And I’m very proud that he’s a good basketball player, in the capital city, and at the same time doing a lot of social work that I admire.”

Or to Piotr Gruszka, a three-time Olympic volleyball player and longtime stalwart on the Polish national team, who flew to Washington for Gortat’s event.

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“My friend asked me to come here,” Gruszka said by way of explanation, in between taking photographs of Gortat and John Wall warming up. “For Marcin, for sure, and for the Polish people.”

Or to Colonel Piotr Gastal, commander of the GROM special forces unit that Gortat has visited in both Afghanistan and Poland.

“Marcin Gortat is our friend,” said Gastal, who also flew to Washington with four of his operators for the event. “It is really unusual. He’s the only sportsman that supports the Polish troops, the Polish soldiers, and he’s kind of a Polish ambassador here in the States. In Poland we really like the United States; the way of life, the freedom, the democracy. Everything that’s here in the States, we like it. So he’s here, and we are very proud.”

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“He’s our friend and he’s a friend of our unit, as well,” said one of Gastal’s operators, who asked that his name not be used. “I think it’s something special for people like us, that we can just stand in front of so many people and everybody just thanks and respects for us. It’s really important.”

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Saturday’s event featured things you might expect; kids in scarves and face paint, Gortat presenting a jersey to a World War II veteran, Polish cheerleaders in denim shorts, a promotional contest in which the winner received a trip to Poland, a video of some Wizards tasting pierogies, and so on.

Gortat called it “a huge day for me, a very important day for me.” He shook dozens of hands, posed for photos, spoke at length with members of the Polish media, and addressed hundreds of Polish fans. Again, this is nothing new; “it’s not my first rodeo,” Gortat said, referencing his previous Polish nights.

The Polish fans and friends of Gortat crowding around the center before and after the game were less restrained.