Yang Hansen from the Chinese mainland has officially joined the Portland Trail Blazers, marking a significant moment in NBA history. Selected as the 16th overall pick in the NBA Draft on June 25, Yang becomes the third player from the Chinese mainland to be drafted in the first round, following in the footsteps of Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
The 2.18-meter-tall center inked a four-year, $21.4 million deal, according to reports from spotrac.com. The contract includes team options for the third and fourth seasons, signaling the Trail Blazers’ confidence in his potential. However, Portland won’t be able to trade him until August 1.
Yang previously played for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), where he showcased impressive stats over the past two seasons. Averaging 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game, he earned accolades such as CBA Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-CBA Team selection, and participated in two All-Star Games.
His performance during the NBA Draft Combine caught the attention of multiple teams. Both the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves expressed interest, but the Trail Blazers secured his rights, seeing him as a key piece in their rebuilding efforts.
Portland is undergoing significant changes after trading nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in September 2023. With Yang on board, the team hopes to improve upon their recent seasons, where they won 21 and 36 games, respectively, missing the playoffs both times.
Yang will compete for playing time at the center position alongside Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Reath, following the Trail Blazers’ decision to buy out Deandre Ayton’s contract. In addition, the team acquired point guard Jrue Holiday, a two-time league champion, from the Boston Celtics.
Head coach Chauncey Billups expressed enthusiasm about Yang’s arrival. “You can just tell he’s been taught the right way, so a lot of things as a coach that I have to teach with young guys, I don’t have to teach this kid,” Billups said. “He’s been taught the right way, so I’m really excited about him, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin echoed the sentiment on draft night. “This is a very, very unique talent, in our opinion,” Cronin said. “He obviously has great size at 7-2, young, just turns 20 tomorrow. High-end skill set, his ability to pass, his basketball IQ, his functionality in the post. His ability to step out. We think he’ll be a good free throw shooter, we think he’ll make perimeter jump shots as well. Defensively, he’s a really smart player that can be pretty versatile in the post with his size and IQ.”
As Yang embarks on his NBA journey, fans from the Chinese mainland and around the world are eager to see his impact on the court.
