Portland Trail Blazers’ Draft Choice and Rookie Performance
The Portland Trail Blazers found themselves in a position where they couldn’t afford to draft solely for fit. This led to their decision to pick Yang Hansen, a center from China, during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, following another lottery center acquisition, Donovan Clingan. Initially, this move drew quite a bit of criticism—myself included—for supposedly “reaching” for Hansen, who many expected to go in the second round. However, after watching him play in the Summer League and the early NBA preseason, I’m starting to understand the vision that Portland’s front office had.
In his second preseason game on Friday night, Hansen put on an impressive performance, looking like the standout player during his 17 minutes on the court as the Trail Blazers edged the Kings 124-123. He wrapped up the game with 16 points, four rebounds, three blocks, and some assists, shooting 5-of-8 overall, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and hitting all four of his free throws. Notably, Portland outscored Sacramento by nine points while he was in the game.
While those numbers are quite striking, the outcome is still just preseason. What’s genuinely noteworthy is how at ease Hansen appeared on the floor. His shooting, creativity with the ball, and ability to protect the rim are all very promising. You can catch the highlights somewhere around.
Before the draft, Hansen was labeled as the “China Jokic,” which is, well, a bit over the top. I recognize that this type of headline isn’t ideal, but hey, that’s the nature of online sports commentary. It’s essential to note that young players shouldn’t be compared to Nikola Jokic. The Denver Nuggets’ superstar has been elite for years, and at 30, he shows no signs of slowing down. Honestly, it won’t be long before Jokic is brought up in discussions about the all-time greats.
Putting aside that disclaimer, it’s clear Hansen has certain traits reminiscent of Jokic, though not in a way that fully encompasses his overall impact. Standing at 7’1″ and weighing 260 pounds, Hansen isn’t the fastest guy on the court, but he plays with a sense of control, never seeming rushed. For instance, his pump-and-go drive demonstrates this well. He has behind-the-back dribbles and spin moves, utilizing his size and strength effectively when finishing near the basket.
If he continues with that kind of shooting from three-point range, that’s quite a plus for him.
Yet, it’s tough to predict how impactful Hansen will be as a rookie. There’s a good chance he’ll struggle with fouls—he racked up five in just 17 minutes during this game. He tends to go for risky passes, which could lead to turnovers; he actually attempted three in this game. And I can imagine that a quicker guard might find opportunities against him in pick-and-roll situations as he tries to navigate around screens. At this point, he doesn’t seem very versatile defensively, mainly appearing as a drop-style big, which might limit his overall value.
The Blazers spent time before the draft questioning Hansen about his weaknesses. They seem to have faith in what he can bring. Sometimes, that belief in a young player is enough. I’m not entirely sure if Hansen and Clingan will play well together, but given that big duos are gaining traction in the league, perhaps it’s worth exploring.
One thing is certain: it’s exciting to watch Hansen as he tries to carve out his niche in the NBA, regardless of how much impact he ultimately makes. This feels like one of the more interesting narratives unfolding in the league right now. It may be a good time to pay attention to his journey.
