In a press conference held Friday morning, the Portland Trail Blazers formally introduced Yang Hansen, their surprising No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

At the Blazers’ practice facility in Tualatin, Oregon, the 20-year-old center took the stage in a crisp white Trail Blazers polo, flanked by General Manager Joe Cronin, Head Coach Chauncey Billups and a translator.

Yang’s selection is historic: He becomes the third Chinese-born player ever drafted in the first round, and the first since Yi Jianlian in 2007. It’s also happening at a time when the Trail Blazers have the franchise up for sale and a bunch of balls in the air.

Yang’s name wasn’t one many expected to hear in the lottery’s vicinity. He emerged from high in the crowd high in the stands as his name was announced, unlike most expected first round draft picks who sit at tables near the dais. Projected as a second-rounder by most analysts — slotted between picks No. 35 and No. 45 — his rise to the 16th overall slot was among the biggest surprises of draft night on Wednesday.

The Blazers had been tracking him for two years, Cronin said.

Standing at 7-foot-1-inch, with a 7-foot-3-inch wingspan, Yang brings elite size to the NBA. Yang first caught a Blazers scout’s eye because of his high basketball intelligence, passing ability and shooting touch, which are seen as rare qualities in a 7-footer.

His touch and high-level passing have drawn comparisons to the hallmark skills of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, who led Denver to the 2023 championship and has won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award three times. Jokić represents the rarest of draft outcomes: selected 41st out of Serbia, he’s the only NBA player to win the MVP award after being drafted in the second round.

Last season in the Chinese Basketball Association, the country’s first-tier professional league, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3 assists, earning Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the 2023-2024 season.

Yang’s draft night sparked celebrations across China, as he became a new symbol of hope for the next generation of Chinese players chasing success in the NBA. Friday’s press conference with Yang was exactly 23 years after Yao Ming was drafted No. 1 overall.

At a press conference ahead of the Wednesday draft, Hall of Famer Yao advised Yang and other young Chinese players with NBA dreams “to remember one thing: the draft is just a small part of their entire career, or even their life … What really matters is the path they take afterward,” according to CNN.

This is the second consecutive year the Trail Blazers have used their first round draft pick on a player standing over seven feet. Last year they selected Donovan Clingan, a 20-year-old center from the University of Connecticut, who earned All-Rookie honors in his first season for his defensive prowess.

Playing time is not guaranteed for the rookie Yang. The team currently has five centers on the roster.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/27/yang-hansen-portland-trail-blazers/