(From left to right) The director general of Trail Blazers, Joe Cronin, is held with the choice of the NBA of the Yang Hansen team and the trail trainer of Trail Blazers Chauncey Billups, during a press conference at Pragineer Pratctily Facility in Portland, Oregon, June 27, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Friday morning, during a press conference, the Portland Trail Blazers officially presented Yang Hansen, their surprise choice in the recovery of the NBA 2025.
The 20-year-old center went on stage at the Blazers training center in Tualatin, Oregon, wearing a crisp polo shirt by the Blazers White Trail, flanked by general manager Joe Cronin and the head coach Chauncey Billups.
The selection of Yang is historic: as a global selection n ° 16, he became the third player born in Chinese never drafted in the first round, and the first since Yi Jianlian in 2007. This also occurs at a time of significant change for trails, as the franchise is for sale For the first time since 1988.
In an interview with OPB, Yang said that he had instantly fell in love with Portland when he came for a training project a month ago.
“I know that this city has rains, and the landscape here is really nice,” said Yang in Chinese Mandarin. “Honestly, I felt a kind of magic when I came here. When I was on the way back here, driving, I saw so many beautiful sites.”
The name of Yang, Hansen, means “a large forest” in Chinese. Yang called him a “great and beautiful connection” and “a wonderful arrangement of destiny” that he came to Portland, a city known for its greenery in the Douglas-Fir forests of the North West Pacific.
Yang added that he had received a warm welcome from his colleagues coaches and players from Blazer Thursday in a local hotel, including a cake and a card for his 20th anniversary, which was also on Thursday.
“I feel really grateful and touched,” he said in Mandarin.
Yang, on the left, the choice of draft of the first round of the Portland Trail Blazers, answers questions as he is able to do during his introductory press conference without the help of his translator.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
The name of Yang did not expect to hear in the vicinity of the lottery. He emerged from the crowd at the top in the stands, because his name was announced, unlike most of the recourse choices in the first round which are seated at tables near the platform. Projected as a second round by most analysts – plunged between choices n ° 35 and n ° 45 – its ascent to the 16th niche in total was among the biggest surprises of the draft evening on Wednesday.
The Blazers, however, have been following him for two years.
“What I like the most is how he plays the game – his IQ is really, really high. He plays the game in the right direction. He is really a good teammate, playing for others to improve others,” said Billups. “I have to teach with young people. I don’t have to teach this child – we taught him in the right way. ”
Standing at 7 feet 1 inch, with a winged of 7 feet 3 inches, Yang brings an elite size to the NBA. Yang first attracted the eye of a Blazers scout because of its basketball intelligence, its passage of passage and its shooting touch, which are considered rare qualities in a 7 feet.
His touch and high -level pass have made comparisons with the characteristic skills of the center of Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic, who led Denver at the 2023 championship and won the NBA most useful player prize three times. Jokic represents the rarest of the project results: selected 41st in Serbia, he is the only NBA player to win the MVP prize after being drafted in the second round.
Yang said he was taking his comparison with Jokic – as well as his association with Yao Ming – like “a compliment and encouragement”.
“I do my best to learn from their strengths and work hard to grow,” he said in Mandarin.
Last season in Chinese Basketball Association, the country’s first-level Professional League, Yang collected on average 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3 assists, winning the prizes for the year’s recruit and defensive players of the year during the 2023-2024 season.
During the Friday press conference, Yang answered Mandarin to most media questions, but delivered some answers in English, as when he was asked what he enjoyed outside basketball.
“I sleep all the time, I like to play the PS5 and I like to eat,” he said, pulling laughter from the little crowd on the spot.
Billups has recognized that it will be a unique experience for him to coach Yang through a translator, but stressed that he has fully confidence in the young man’s ability to master a new language.
“Obviously, you see him trying and doing a very good job by already trying to answer questions (in English),” he said. “But the language of basketball is a little universal … I am really excited by the challenge.”
The night of Yang draft has sparked celebrations across China, when it has become a new symbol of hope for the next generation of Chinese players to continue success in the NBA. Friday’s press conference with Yang was Exactly 23 years after Yao Ming was written n ° 1 in total.
During a press conference before the Wednesday project, the renowned temple Cnn.
Yang has echoed Yao’s advice for basketball players in China and Asian American players in the United States “I would say: not to think too much.
This is the second consecutive year that the Blazers Trail used their first recovery choice on a player of more than seven feet. Last year, they selected Donovan Vlangan, a 20-year center from the University of Connecticut, which won All-Rookie honors during its first season for its defensive prowess.
The playing time is not guaranteed for the Yang recruit. The team currently has five centers on the list. Billups said he doesn’t plan Clingan and Yang to play together, but that could be possible in the future.
“Who knows? These two guys are very young,” said Billups. “In fact, Donovan was in training when he (Yang) worked and was very impressed.”
In a message addressed to the Blazers fans, Yang said it was “very excited” to be in the city.
“I will do my best to play every game well,” he said in Mandarin, “and gives everything to each game.”
This story was written and reported by Winston Szeto and edited by Tony Schickwith visuals by Parks Bradley W. and Morgan Barnaby.
