By Darius
For Chinese basketball fans, this morning was truly exhilarating—and for good reason: 19-year-old Yang Hansen was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 16th overall pick in the NBA Draft. This means that, after many years, another Chinese player has earned the opportunity to enter the NBA as a rookie and compete on the world's biggest basketball stage.
For those unfamiliar with the NBA, the draft might seem like a mystery. Simply put, the NBA Draft is like a small-scale job fair: the "applicants" are American basketball players who have graduated from high school for at least a year or international players over 19, while the "employers" are all the teams in the NBA. The draft consists of two rounds, where players' abilities are evaluated through scouting reports, workouts, and other assessments. To maintain competitive balance, the worst-performing teams from the previous season are given higher priority in the selection order. Thus, the team with the first overall pick is usually one of the league's weakest from the year before.
Of course, each team has different needs, so their preferred player styles may vary drastically. This means the first pick isn't necessarily the "best" player in an absolute sense, but the higher the draft position, the greater the team's leverage in their choice.
Originally, Yang was projected to go between picks 20 and 30, but the Trail Blazers used their relatively high 16th selection to take him, signaling both recognition of his talent and their strategic considerations. While Portland already has several players in his position, future roster moves remain a possibility.
Yang's journey to the NBA can be described as a "slow start with a strong finish." He made his CBA debut in 2023 and immediately delivered All-Star-caliber performances, though his lack of elite mobility and shooting drew skepticism. Rumors of an NBA bid surfaced early but were shelved—likely because his Qingdao team felt he needed more seasoning before leaping. Today, Trail Blazers' GM revealed they'd been scouting Yang for two years, suggesting his NBA ambitions began the moment he turned pro.
At the pre-draft combine, Yang measured 7'1" (216 cm) tall with a 7'3" (220 cm) wingspan and one of the largest hand sizes in his class—physical traits meeting NBA big-man standards. His athleticism also stood out among his peers. During subsequent scrimmages, he impressed scouts, and media buzz grew about his potential first-round selection. After workouts with multiple teams yielded positive feedback, Portland's decision to pick him at No. 16 still came as a surprise. Yet Yang's Chinese heritage promises commercial opportunities, while his polished skills, NBA-ready frame, and pro experience add credibility. Personality also matters in a foreign environment, and the cheerful 19-year-old reportedly bonded well with peers, including 10th pick Khaman Maluach from South Sudan.
As the old saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way." While we marvel at Yang's draft position, he's already moving forward to the next chapter. Here's wishing him—and Chinese basketball—the best of luck! And also, Yang, happy birthday!
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Yang Hansen selected by Trail Blazers with 16th pick in NBA Draft
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