Who is Yang Hansen? Meet the seven-foot-two Chinese centre picked by the Portland Trail Blazers
The 2025 NBA Draft brought a big surprise when the Portland Trail Blazers selected Chinese centre Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick. This made him the first Chinese player to be picked in the first round since 2007. It was a proud moment for Chinese basketball, with Hansen following in the footsteps of legends like Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
While most experts thought Hansen would be selected in the second round, Portland had been watching him for a long time. They saw his potential and moved quickly to secure him.
Yang Hansen made his mark in the CBA
Hansen is just 20 years old and played for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association. He was named Rookie of the Year and also became a two-time CBA All-Star. In his two seasons with the team, he averaged 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Despite being a centre, Hansen's passing caught everyone's attention. His performance at the NBA Draft Combine earned him comparisons to NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Scouts and coaches praised his vision and awareness on the court.
Portland sees Yang Hansen as part of their future
Yang had individual workouts with 11 different NBA teams. The Trail Blazers had already been tracking his progress in China for a couple of years. They made a trade with Memphis to grab the 16th pick and chose Hansen on the night of the draft.
Yang Hansen is selected 16th overall by the @memgrizz in the 2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!Watch on ABC & ESPN. pic.twitter.com/3m8duAoMrn
He was not in the green room with other top picks. Instead, he came down from the stands wearing a white suit to shake NBA commissioner Adam Silver's hand. The moment felt special, especially since it was also his birthday.
Hansen later said he got along well with the Portland staff and felt excited about the future. His selection is a major step forward for Chinese basketball, and fans will be eager to see how he performs in the NBA.
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