The Portland Path Blazers sprang a shock on followers within the 2025 NBA Draft by choosing Chinese language middle Yang Hansen with the sixteenth general choose by way of a commerce with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Hansen turns into simply the third Chinese language participant to be chosen within the first spherical of the NBA Draft and the primary since 2007. Icon Yao Ming, who was the primary choice in 2002, and Yi Jianlian — who was sixth general in 2007– are the one different two with that distinction.
Yang Hansen wasn’t anticipated to be picked excessive within the draft, however the Path Blazers have been scouting him for the previous couple of years in China. Right here is extra element concerning the participant.
Who’s Yang Hansen, Chinese language prodigy turns into the Portland Path Blazers’ 2025 NBA Draft first spherical choose?
Yang Hansen, 20, has been a prodigy within the Chinese language Basketball Affiliation, taking part in for the Qingdao Eagles from 2023 to this 12 months. He was a two-time CBA All-Star and earned the Rookie of the 12 months honour throughout his first season.
In his two seasons with the CBA’s Eagles, he averaged 15.8 factors per recreation, 10.7 rebounds per recreation, and three.5 assists per recreation. Many specialists have in contrast him to three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić.
The 7ft 2in (2.18m) middle had been tipped as a second-round choose.
That was even after his inventory had risen after a promising efficiency on the NBA draft mix, the place a few of his passes had earned comparisons to Jokic.
Yang Hansen had particular person exercises with 11 groups, together with the Path Blazers, who, after swapping the eleventh and sixteenth draft choices with the Memphis Grizzlies, grabbed Yang on Wednesday.
“The Blazers had scouts scouting me in China the final couple of years. I additionally had a pre-workout with them final month. All the things went very properly, and I acquired together with all of the front-office folks. However on the finish of the day, that is type of past my wildest creativeness,” Yang mentioned.
The choose made for a sensational birthday for Yang Hansen, who turned 20 on Thursday.
Not included among the many seemingly first-round prospects and given a spot within the near-stage ready room, he clambered down from the stands wearing a white go well with to shake NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s hand.
