Yang Hansen takes the NBA by storm
The Chinese center is beginning his NBA journey with the Portland Trail Blazers after making his debut in the Summer League, where he quickly became one of the standout figures both on and off the court.
Yang Hansen’s arrival in the NBA has made waves across the basketball world. On June 25, the 20-year-old, 7-foot-2 (2.18m) center was selected 16th overall in the 2025 Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers — via a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, who took Cedric Coward at No. 11. Since then, Yang’s name has dominated headlines globally.
One of the biggest shocks of the 2025 Draft
And with good reason. Yang was one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 Draft. He was projected as a second-rounder, and none of the major scouting outlets had him among their top 30 prospects. But Portland shocked the basketball world by taking him in the middle of the first round, just outside the lottery (1–14). The move stunned observers, especially as Yang hadn’t even been invited to the Green Room, the reserved space for players expected to go early. That same night, he became just the third Chinese player ever drafted in the first round, after Yao Ming (No. 1 in 2002) and Yi Jianlian (No. 6 in 2007).
During the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, held from July 10 to 20, Yang emerged as one of the central figures of the tournament. Thousands of Chinese and Chinese-American fans traveled to Las Vegas to see him play. The excitement was so great that Tencent, the Chinese media giant, sent a full documentary crew to follow him and film a 10-part series on his Summer League experience.
Yang’s huge following in China
In China, more than 5.2 million viewers tuned in to Tencent’s free broadcast of the Blazers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies. In that matchup, Yang impressed with 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 25 minutes. According to an NBA official, that game drew a bigger audience in China than the debut of No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, which aired on ESPN to 1.1 million viewers. Another Blazers game streamed by Tencent’s subscription platform drew 3.4 million viewers — 16 times its average audience. Meanwhile, China Central Television reported ratings higher than this year’s NBA playoffs.
On the court, Yang played four Summer League games, averaging 10.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. Afterward, he admitted he is still adjusting to the speed and physicality of American basketball. Even so, Blazers Summer League coach Ronnie Burrell praised Yang’s fearless play and his composure in handling the media spotlight. Portland’s front office is optimistic he can crack the rotation next season.
Yang nearly quit basketball
Basketball, however, wasn’t always Yang’s first choice. He discovered the game at age three, watching one of his father’s amateur league games. His father, an electrician and part-time player, got him onto a school team at age eight. But after just two days, Yang refused to get out of the car for practice and nearly quit for good. He also dabbled in table tennis, swimming, and taekwondo before returning to basketball.
“I wasn’t very good at school and I was a little overweight,” Yang said during Summer League. “My dad told me to try sports, pick something I wanted to do, and lose some weight.”
The idea of playing in the NBA first crossed his mind at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Hungary. There, he faced off against current Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 Draft, and caught the eye of a Blazers scout seeing him live for the first time. Last season with the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.6 blocks while shooting 33.3% from three. His strong performance earned him an invite to the NBA Draft Combine and private workouts in the U.S. this spring. After those sessions, Portland was sold.
“Yao called me and shared some of his experiences,” Yang said before leaving for the U.S. “He told me to enjoy the food, the drinks, the sleep, and everything. He’s the icon of Chinese basketball. I feel so much expectation. Compared to him, I’m just ashes in a jar.”
In Las Vegas, Yang revealed his favorite player is Denver Nuggets center and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. He showed flashes of Jokić’s game, threading passes into tight spaces and finding open teammates with vision beyond his years.
For Portland, Yang’s arrival comes at a crucial time. The Blazers haven’t reached the playoffs in four years, and many fans checked out after Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks two seasons ago. Lillard, now 35, returned to Portland this summer on a three-year deal, but he is expected to miss the entire season while recovering from a torn Achilles.
Since drafting Yang, however, Portland’s retail sales have surged 1,091% compared to 2024, and the team’s TikTok account has drawn more than 30 million views, according to a team executive. In less than a month, the Blazers have added nearly 900,000 followers on Chinese platforms Weibo and Douyin, surpassing all other NBA teams in engagement. Yang Hansen’s journey is just beginning, but the Blazers — and a growing global fanbase — will be watching closely.
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