The first known bobbleheads date to the mid-1700s, plaster nodding-head figurines imported from China to England and continental Europe.

They entered the consciousness of the sports world in 1960, when Major League Baseball distributed paper-mache and ceramic bobbleheads of stars Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Roger Maris and Willie Mays.

Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers had 19 different bobblehead giveaway days depicting an array of current and former players.

San Diego State’s basketball program is about to have its first Saturday at Viejas Arena, with all fans attending the 5 p.m. game receiving a free bobblehead of coach Brian Dutcher.

“I’ve heard my hair looks grayer than it is, but I’ve got gray hair,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of gray hair. But they made me look skinny, which I like.”

The bobblehead has Dutcher wearing all black and sneakers, with hands on his hips in a familiar sideline pose. (The other option would have been both hands over his head reacting to an official’s call.)

He is believed to be the fifth sports figure from the school — and the first coach — to get his or her own Aztecs bobblehead, joining Tony Gwynn, Marshall Faulk, Stephen Strasburg and Donnel Pumphrey. One ebay vendor is already taking pre-orders at $53.99 plus shipping.

Dutcher was asked if it will be displayed prominently at his house.

“I’m sure it will be the brunt of many jokes,” he said. “I know that for a fact. If it’s out where it can be seen, it will be because they want to tease me about it, not in honor of it.”

ALS game

Saturday’s game has been designated at the annual ALS Awareness Game. Fans will raise placards during a timeout to honor, remember and advocate for those afflicted with ALS, as has Mark Fisher, the son of former coach Steve Fisher and still a special assistant on staff. Last year’s game proved to be a big fundraiser for the ALS Association’s Greater San Diego Chapter.

The next opponent

UNLV entered the week 9-0 against teams outside the top-100 in the major metrics, and 0-7 against teams inside it. That changed Wednesday with a 65-62 home win that handed 16-2 Utah State its first conference loss.

“They did what they had to do,” Dutcher said of the Runnin’ Rebels, who had lost their previous two games, both on the road, both by 22 points. “They were at a crossroads. They got beat by 22 at two hard places to play, and they came back and drew a line in the sand and showed their toughness and disposition, and they got a win.”

That, and New Mexico’s 71-70 loss at San Jose State a day earlier, left no one undefeated in conference play and moved SDSU only one game out of first place in the loss column.

“People never think it’s going to happen, but it happens all the time in this league,” Dutcher said. “You go on the road, it’s tough. New Mexico and Utah State found that out this week. Life on the road is hard. The coaches know that. The fan bases don’t believe it, but the coaches know how hard this league is, every single game.

“That’s why a 20-game conference schedule makes it harder than it ever has been in the past.”

Alumni report

Rookie Jaedon LeDee had his two best games as a pro this week for the G League’s Iowa Wolves, with 16 points and six rebounds against the Rip City Remix and 19 and eight against the Greensboro Swarm.

• Keshad Johnson, now on a full NBA contract, has appeared in seven games with the Miami Heat. Most were short stints, but he had five points in 12 minutes against the Indiana Pacers and seven points in 20 minutes against the Utah Jazz earlier this month.

• Matt Mitchell had his best game with Lithuanian club Zalgiris, with 13 points in 27 minutes in an 88-86 win against Nevezis.

• Hoping to get back to the NBA, Jalen McDaniels made his case playing for the G League’s Capital City Go-Go with 21 points, 16 rebounds and four assists on Monday against the Maine Celtics. He added 15 points in Thursday’s win over the San Diego Clippers.