Yang Hansen turned 20 this week, but his real birthday gift came early when the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Most people thought the Chinese center’s draft would happen in the second round, so it was a big surprise when the Trail Blazers called his name in the first. Yang was not even sitting with the top prospects; he had to walk down from the stands to the state like a regular fan.
“Hello, NBA! My name is Hansen Yang!” he wrote on the chiseled social media platform Weibo. His selection came 23 years to the day after Yao Ming was picked No.1 overall in 2002. While it’s too soon to compare him to Yao, Yang’s all-around game earned him a new nickname: The Chinese Jokic.
Last season with the Qingdao Eagles, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and three assists. He received Rookie of the Year and is a two-time All-Star starter in the Chinese Basketball Association. At the NBA draft combine, he measured a 7’3” wingspan and a standing reach of 9’3”, showing just how big and skilled he is.
Yang Hansen Joins NBA As China’s Hope In Portland
Yang became the first Chinese player drafted in nearly 10 years and only the fourth to move straight from the CBA to the NBA. He now joins a short list that includes legends like Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
“No matter what the outcome of tomorrow’s draft is, it’s important to remember one thing: the draft is just a small part of their entire career, or even their life,” Yang said. “What matters is the path they take afterward.”
His new team, the Blazers, already has several big names, including DeAndre Ayton, Robert Williams, Donovan Clingan, and Toumani Camara. However, Yang’s upside and support from top agent Rich Paul suggest Portland sees serious potential in him. China now has a new face to cheer for in the NBA. Yang’s journey in Portland is just beginning
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