Trail Blazers rookie shares father’s guidance

Trail Blazers Welcome Yang Hansen to the NBA

This summer, the Portland Trail Blazers made a notable move by acquiring 7-foot-1 center Yang Hansen from China in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.

At just 20 years old, Yang is somewhat off the radar for casual basketball enthusiasts. He’s been playing since his early school days, eventually joining the Qingdao Eagles and making his way to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

He’s not just any player either. Yang was named a CBA All-Star for two consecutive years, in 2024 and 2025, and even snagged the title of defensive player of the year in 2024. The Trail Blazers are looking to integrate him into their team under coach Chauncey Billups.

In a candid interview about his journey, Yang shared some personal history. He almost gave up basketball at eight, since he wasn’t keen on practicing in the heat. His father, Yang Lin, a professional basketball player, encouraged him to stick with it, emphasizing that sports could be a pathway to college. Yang explored different activities before realizing he wanted to return to basketball.

“I wasn’t excelling in school and, well, I was a bit overweight,” he recounted. “My dad pushed me to find a sport to help lose weight and figure out what I enjoyed.”

As he prepares for his NBA career, Yang is about to become the ninth Chinese player to enter the league, following the legacies of stars like Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.

Currently, the only other active Chinese player is Cui Yongxi, who had a brief stint with the Brooklyn Nets last season before an injury sidelined him.

Yang seems aware of the weight on his shoulders being from China.

“There’s definitely a lot of pressure,” he admitted. “I want to make my country proud. Before I came to the U.S., Yao reached out to me and shared his experiences,”