Yang Hansen Selected 16th Overall by Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Draft

In a significant moment for Chinese basketball, Yang Hansen, previously of the Qingdao Eagles, made history by being chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA Draft. With this selection, Yang joins the ranks of Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian as the third Chinese player to be picked in the first round of the draft. The Blazers secured the 16th pick through a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, and reports indicate that they are not looking to trade Yang.

Yang expressed his excitement at being selected, stating, “My legs are shaking a bit right now. I'm completely taken by surprise and extremely excited.” He noted that the Trail Blazers were among the first teams to see him play in China and were the first to offer him a tryout. Yang had previously showcased his skills in tryouts with 14 different NBA teams before the draft. Zhang Beihai, general manager of the Qingdao Eagles, expressed pride in Yang's achievement during a live broadcast, citing the capability of Chinese youth training systems to develop players for the NBA.

Having played for the Qingdao Eagles in China’s top basketball league for the past two years, Yang stands tall at 2.18 meters and is recognized as a leading prospect. In his rookie season (2023-24), he participated in 51 games, followed by 45 games in the 2024-25 season, where he achieved a career-best average of 16.6 points per game. He also made notable contributions with averages of 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks while maintaining respectable shooting percentages.

The draft selection has been positively received by the Chinese Basketball Association, who released a statement celebrating Yang's 16th overall pick. They highlighted his impressive performance in the CBA, where he has shown significant talent and potential, and expressed hope that competing against top international players will further enhance his skills. The association looks forward to his future contributions to the global stage of basketball, anticipating that Yang will bring honor to Chinese basketball in his career with the Trail Blazers.