The Blazers’ surprising NBA Draft selection is already being referred to as ‘Chinese Jokic’ by one team.

Trail Blazers Surprise with 2025 Draft Move

The Portland Trail Blazers caused a stir in the NBA by trading down with the Memphis Grizzlies to select center Hansen Yang from China with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

As noted by a friend from Blazer’s Edge, this was a somewhat unexpected choice. While some sources, like Ringer, had Yang projected much later—around the 40th pick—ESPN surprisingly placed him within the top 20, considering him the 36th overall prospect.

Before becoming one of the NBA’s all-time greats, there was another international player, a seven-footer, who was also predicted to go in the second round. Interestingly, the three-time MVP even mentioned to NBA insider Jake Fisher that he sees parallels between Yang and Nikola Jokic.

Comparisons like this can often feel exaggerated, driven by the need to link new players to established stars—a way for fans to grasp the game better. I haven’t followed much of the CBA’s Qingdao Eagles recently, but if you watch Yang’s highlights, it’s still a wild comparison. Jokic largely stands out as a unique talent, so the comparison feels, well, a bit much.

Still, there are visible skills in Yang’s game that warrant attention, especially when you see his standout moments.

After all, even Jokic has never won the Rookie of the Year award twice.

Can Yang become a standout in the NBA? Our draft expert, Ricky O’Donnell, isn’t entirely convinced. He expressed uncertainty in his live draft analysis, especially when compared to many other anonymous sources.

I thought Hansen showed promise as a potential second-round pick given his size and passing ability, but this feels like a surprising move. The Blazers already have another large center in Donovan Klingan, who they picked in the top ten last year, and I wonder how they can coexist. It’s confusing, but at least Portland managed to trade down and acquire more assets.

It will be interesting to see who’s right—Ricky’s opinion or those of unnamed sources. Joe Cronin, Mike Schmitz, and the Blazers took a bold step in selecting Yang so high. Yet, comparisons to Jokic—before Yang has even played in the NBA—are pretty intense. It shows a certain boldness in decision-making.