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Portland Trail Blazers acquired the draft of 7-Foot-1 Center Yang Hansen out of China this summer in a trade with Memphis Grizzlies and he looks to have an immediate influence.
Yang, 20, is relatively unknown to Fair-Weather Basketball fans. He has played basketball in China since he was in primary school and eventually went to the Chinese basketball association (CBA) and played for Qingdao Eagles.
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Yang Hansen, No. 16 of the Portland Trail Blazers, constitutes a portrait during the 2025 NBA -Rockie photo session at UNLV on July 16, 2025 in Las Vegas. (Harry How/Getty Images)
He was CBA All-Star in 2024 and 2025 and appointed Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 before being raised in NBA circles. He is ready to become an important part of Trail Blazers under head coach Chauncey Billups.
Yang, whose father Yang Lin was a Pro basketball player, opened for why he decided to play basketball in an interview with the Washington Post. He told the paper he was ready to end sports at the age of 8 when he refused to practice outside in the heat. His father urged him to work hard on something that could help him get to college. According to the report, Yang tried several sprots before returning to basketball.
“I wasn’t so good at school and I was a bit of a fat boy,” he told The Washington Post. “My dad asked me to try some sports, find out what you want to do, and lose something. My dad said to me, ‘Don’t be fat.'”
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Yang Hansen, Right, greets NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 16th election of Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brookly, New York, on June 25, 2025. (Brad Penner-Preferred Pictures)
Yang is ready to become the ninth Chinese NBA player when he eventually takes the floor to Portland. He will follow in the footsteps of the legendary Yao Ming and former star Yi Jianlian.
Cui Yongxi is the only other active Chinese player. He played five games for Brooklyn Nets last season, but his year was shortened when he tore his ACL in a G League game.
Yang acknowledged the pressure that comes from being from China and playing in the NBA.
“It’s definitely a lot of pressure,” he told the newspaper. “I just want to show the people in China. I do well. Before I went to the states, yao called me and shared some of his experiences. He asked me to enjoy your food, enjoy your drinks, enjoy your sleep and enjoy everything.
Yang Hansen goes to the stage after being selected as the 16th election of Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on June 25, 2025. (Brad Penner-Preferred Pictures)
“Yao is the icon of Chinese basketball. He’s special. I’m just a rookie. I can feel a lot of expectations and expectations of me. Yao is number one in paradise. Compared to him I am cold ash in a pot.”
