Portland Trail Blazers rookie center Yang Hansen is making waves as he begins his journey in the NBA. Selected as the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft from the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), Hansen, who stands 7-foot-1, is still acclimating to life in the league.
Yang Hansen’s Impressive Adjustments
During a recent press conference, Hansen shared his thoughts on the Blazers’ approach to basketball, emphasizing their attention to detail. “Everything here is more focused on details,” he mentioned through his translator, Chris Liu.
Jerami Grant, the team’s highest-paid player, praised Hansen’s ability to adapt quickly. “He’s figuring it out really fast,” Grant stated. “He doesn’t speak English, so it’s a little difficult, but he’s intuitive. He’s smart.” This endorsement speaks volumes about Hansen’s potential impact on the team.
Proposed Lineup Changes
As Hansen seeks to establish his role in Portland’s center rotation, he is advocating for more playing time alongside Donovan Clingan, the presumed starting center. With a grin, he suggested, “Maybe you can tell Chauncey [Billups]—go twin towers, two centers on the court.”
Billups’ Response
Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Blazers and a Hall of Fame player, acknowledged Hansen’s progress. “He’s about where I thought he would be,” Billups commented. However, he noted that Hansen still needs to adjust to the faster pace of the NBA. “Defensively, he’s a little behind,” he added, explaining that Hansen dominated in the CBA due to his size.
Statistical Performance
Hansen’s performance in various leagues has shown promise. In the Summer League, he averaged:
- 9.9 points per game
- 45.1% shooting from the field
- 82.6% free throw shooting
- 5.0 rebounds
- 2.6 assists
- 1.6 blocks
His stats from the 2024-25 season with Qingdao were impressive as well, including:
- 16.2 points per game
- 59.5% shooting from the field
- 67.7% free throw shooting
- 10.0 rebounds
- 2.8 assists
- 2.7 blocks
As Hansen continues to hone his skills, the Blazers organization will be keeping a close eye on his development as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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