After the whirlwind of the NBA Draft, Rip City is just starting to know Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen. The 7-foot-1 center from China seemed like more mystery than man when the organization shocked experts and fans by taking him with the No. 16 overall pick on Wednesday. Less than 48 hours later, just off first impressions alone: He comes across as an easy guy to root for.
The Trail Blazers held Hansen’s introductory press conference with local media on Friday morning at the team’s Tualatin practice facility. Hansen took the podium with Portland general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups on his right. An interpreter sat on his left. Hansen, who turned 20 on Thursday, primarily spoke in Mandarin Chinese while his interpreter translated questions to him and translated his answers back to the room in English.
In his opening statement, Hansen thanked everybody for coming and said he was excited to join the Blazers. Then he joked that by the time of his next press conference, he hopes he can kick his interpreter out and answer questions in English by himself, getting laughs from the small crowd.
A little later, he drew more laughs when he was asked to discuss his interests outside of basketball. It was one of the rare moments during the 18-minute press conference where Hansen spoke in English.
“I sleep all the time,” he said with a big grin. “I like to play PS5, and I like to eat.”
If he worked a job besides being a basketball player, Hansen said he’d be a coach so he could draw up some crazy offense for his players to run — a fitting answer for a player known best for the creative passes in his highlight tape. (This play, where he throws the ball off the backboard to himself for a dunk, especially captures the imagination).
Between the ice-breaking joke and the relatable answers, Hansen’s personality was endearing in his first meeting with the Portland press. That quality amplifies when you watch his sheer excitement on draft night as he took his triumphant walk from the rafters to the main stage — later admitting he was surprised himself the Blazers took him at No. 16. For the record, Hansen said he expected to get selected somewhere in the 20s. He only realized that probably wasn’t happening when television cameras started surrounding him shortly after pick No. 15.
After Friday, based off vibes and personality alone, Hansen will likely enjoy an easy route to becoming a fan favorite in Rip City. He even said he likes Portland a lot because all the rain makes for a great sleeping environment (take that Miami and L.A.). That quote is already winning over the hearts of Blazers faithful on social media. It didn’t surprise this writer that Hansen said he can get along with everybody. That outgoing personality should be a great help as he adjusts to life in a new country while dealing with a language barrier.
Outside of personality, there’s another mystery everybody is trying to learn: How good is Yang Hansen on the basketball floor? That’s a question for every rookie, but it’s punctuated in this case given the shocking nature of Hansen’s selection and the fact he played the past two years in the Chinese Basketball Association. Most U.S. fans haven’t watched him outside of short highlight tapes. It’s also harder to judge how much Hansen’s success in the CBA will translate to the NBA.
We all got some more clues Friday about Hansen’s game and Portland’s plans for him. Similar to Cronin’s glowing review after the draft, Billups on Friday praised Hansen’s high basketball IQ first.
“He plays the game the right way,” Billups said. “He’s really a good teammate, playing for others to make other guys better. His competitive fire, he really competes out there. We love that about him. You can just tell that he’s been taught the right way, so a lot of things ... that I have to teach with young guys, I don’t have to teach this kid.”
Billups said it’s too early to tell what the expectations for Hansen will be during his rookie year regarding his role and playing time. He said Hansen will have to adjust to the next level like all rookies do. He’ll have to get used to the pace, physicality and talent level of the league, while also learning Portland’s offensive and defensive system. Hansen himself said he needs to get faster, stronger and more physical in the post.
Along with Hansen’s learning curve, Billups noted playing time for the rookie could be limited early on due to Portland’s crowded center rotation. The team currently rosters five centers — Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, Duop Reath and now Hansen. With all that being said, Billups made it clear that Hansen isn’t some raw work-in-progress who will be glued to the bench for years. When Billups calls his number, he expects the young rookie will make an impact.
“I would feel very comfortable putting him in a game right now — he’s that good,” Billups said. “To me, this is not like a project type of situation. This guy is ready to go. ... This will be an incredible educational year for him. When he does get a chance to play, I think everybody will be really impressed.”