One of the biggest surprises of this year's NBA Draft was Hansen Yang.
3-pointers this season
Portland Trail Blazers
NBA
Not long ago, he was projected to be a second-round pick, sitting around the 35th spot on most mock drafts.
Yang Hansen: From Projected 35th to 16th pick
But on draft night, the towering Chinese prospect made a huge leap, going all the way up to the 16th pick.
Clearly, something about Yang caught the attention of NBA scouts and front offices.
A 7-foot-1 giant with intriguing tools and a rare profile, he's become one of the most talked-about names in international basketball.
But the big question remains: Was this jump in the draft really justified? And more importantly, what is Hansen Yang's true potential?
A Unique Prospect: Yang's Rare Physical Profile
Yang Hansen is truly a unique player, not just because of his size, but also because of the way he plays the game.
Some of his strengths will no doubt translate well to the NBA, while certain weaknesses still raise questions. But let's start with what he does well.
Hansen has been dominating in China over the past two seasons. At just 18 years old, he was named the CBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, averaging 2.2 blocks per game.
But he wasn't just a defensive anchor; he also contributed 15 points, 10.8 rebounds, and an impressive 3.9 assists per game.
This past season with Qingdao, he took another leap. Yang posted 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 1 steal per game, showing more polish, better decision-making, and improved efficiency.
He even added a new wrinkle to his game: stretching the floor by shooting 33.3% from three on limited attempts.
What really sets Yang apart is his physical profile. At 7'1" and 250 pounds, with a 7'3" wingspan, he's going to be a matchup problem from day one.
In an NBA era where many teams play small ball, someone with Yang's size and strength will always have the potential to dominate the paint, control the glass, and be a constant threat on offensive rebounds.
Post up
Around 34% of Hansen's offensive possessions come from post-up situations, by far the most frequent way he generates scoring opportunities.
In the 2024-25 season, he averaged about 0.80 points per possession from the post. That's not bad, but it definitely leaves room for improvement.
What stands out when watching his post-game is how fundamentally sound he already is.
He has solid footwork, uses both hands well around the basket, and moves surprisingly well for someone his size.
He's not yet developed a go-to move, he hasn't become automatic with a hook shot, drop step, or turnaround jumper, but the tools are there.
With more experience and higher-level competition, it's reasonable to expect Hansen to find a signature move and become much more efficient in post-up situations.
What's particularly interesting is that the Portland Trail Blazers specifically targeted Hansen Yang in the draft.
Making a trade with the Grizzlies and grabbing the big man from China clearly shows that. That kind of move tells you they believe in his potential, especially in the post.
I expect Portland to give him the time and freedom to develop that part of his game, much like we saw with Alperen Sengun in Houston, who gradually became a real force on the block.
Now, it's true, the post-up game isn't nearly as popular as it used to be. Most teams don't build their offense around it anymore.
But when you have a player with Yang's size, footwork, and soft touch around the rim, you can't ignore that weapon. If you draft someone like this with a clear strength in that area, you have to lean into it.
And with proper development, Yang has a real chance to become a mismatch nightmare in those situations.
Passing ability/PNR strengths
One of the biggest strengths that drew attention to Hansen Yang is his court vision. In today's NBA, that skill, especially in big men, is more valuable than ever.
Nikola Jokic has completely reshaped how the league views playmaking centers, and now teams are actively searching for bigs who can read the floor and make the right pass.
We've seen the impact this type of player can have. Isaiah Hartenstein played a crucial role for the reigning champion Thunder, often initiating offense from the high post or creating out-of-handoff actions.
Houston's offense runs through Alperen Sengun in similar ways, using his passing and feel to unlock movement and spacing.
Jokic was the one who really opened the door for this trend, so it's no surprise that Yang's passing ability is getting so much buzz.
During the NBA Draft Combine scrimmage games, he flashed that potential with some eye-catching assists and a great sense for where his teammates were. For a 7-footer, his feel for the game is truly special.
Yang has a great feel for how other players move off the ball, and that allows him to be an effective playmaker in handoff situations.
This skill ties in well with another one of his strengths, screening. Given his size, it's no surprise that he sets solid screens, which help create space and opportunities.
Especially in short roll scenarios, in the modern NBA, with increased spacing and shooters in the corners, Yang could be very effective reading cuts and slips out of those actions.
If he's used properly in pick-and-roll situations, he has the potential to become a real connector on offense.
But for that to happen, there's one key piece still missing: a reliable scoring move out of the short roll.
Yang
Yang
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
Right now, he doesn't have a push shot, floater, or any kind of soft touch weapon that forces defenses to react to him as a scoring threat.
And that's important, because to become a high-level passer in the NBA, you also need to be enough of a threat yourself to draw attention. Without that, defenders can sit back and take away passing lanes.
The Blazers will definitely work on developing this part of his game, because it's the missing piece that could unlock his full potential as a short-roll playmaker.
Still, Hansen clearly has room to grow as a playmaker, even though the potential is undeniable.
This past season, he averaged more turnovers than assists, around three turnovers per game. But that shouldn't necessarily be viewed as a major red flag. The context matters.
In the Chinese league, Yang had a much larger offensive role, often being asked to create and finish plays almost entirely on his own.
His teammates were usually static, waiting for him to make something happen from the low or high post, which put extra pressure on him and limited the effectiveness of his passing reads.
That's a completely different environment from what he experienced at the Draft Combine, and definitely from what he'll see in the NBA.
Surrounded by more skilled, better-moving teammates and with a more balanced offensive system, Yang's passing ability is likely to shine more naturally.
Of course, decision-making is still a work in progress, and he'll need to cut down on risky passes and unforced turnovers.
But considering his age and how much responsibility he carried in China, these mistakes are part of a normal learning curve. With proper coaching and NBA spacing, this area of his game should improve significantly.
Now we get to some of Hansen Yang's weaknesses—and the potential challenges he'll face in the NBA.
Pick-and-Roll Defense and Overall Defensive Impact
Yang is a fascinating player to evaluate on defense. Like many players his size, he comes with certain limitations, but also has strengths that could make a big difference at the next level.
The most obvious concern is his ability to defend in the pick-and-roll, especially when switching.
It's clear that NBA teams will try to force switches and attack him on the perimeter, where he's far less comfortable.
This becomes even more problematic against bigs who can shoot threes. In those cases, switching is often the only viable option to defend pick-and-pop actions.
And that's a tough ask for someone like Yang, whose frame and mobility just aren't built for chasing guards around the arc.
To be fair, his lateral movement is decent for a 7-footer—but in the NBA, that's rarely enough. Guards are quicker, shiftier, and far more skilled than anything he faced in China.
Yang Hansen
Yang Hansen
Credit AP-Scanpix
This is an area where some improvement is possible, but the reality is that lateral quickness is one of the hardest things to significantly develop in basketball.
Yang will need to find ways to maximize his strengths while hiding the inevitable weaknesses that come with his frame, especially in today's NBA, where mobility and defensive versatility are in high demand.
The key for him will be positioning, timing, and discipline. He won't become a switch defender overnight, or maybe ever, but if he can stay within schemes that suit him and sharpen his instincts, he can still be a very effective presence on defense.
Where he already excels is rim protection. During the 2024/25 he averaged around 2.5 blocks per game.
He has great instincts for blocking shots and altering attempts around the basket. His timing is strong, and that gives him real value in drop coverage, his preferred defensive scheme.
Expect him to play mostly drop early in his career, but even that comes with its own set of challenges.
Elite guards will look to exploit him in pick-and-rolls and force him into tough decisions.
So from day one, Yang will be under serious pressure defensively. But if he can grow as a decision-maker and improve his footwork, his rim protection alone gives him a solid foundation to build on.
Shooting
Another area where Yang absolutely needs to improve if he wants to have a successful NBA career is his shooting, not just from three-point range, but also from midrange.
Given his size, it would be a huge asset if he could consistently offer spacing and stretch the floor. That alone would make him a much tougher matchup and help him evolve into a more complete offensive player.
This past season, he attempted only one three-pointer per game and shot just 29% from deep, admittedly on a small sample size.
There's clearly a lot of room for growth here. However, the encouraging sign is that his shooting mechanics look solid, which gives hope that he can significantly improve with time and reps.
If he can reach the point where his team can reliably run pick-and-pop actions for him, that would open up the floor in a big way and drastically increase his chances of making a real impact at the NBA level.
It's not just a bonus skill, it could be a game-changer for his long-term role in the league.
So, after breaking it all down, did the Blazers make the right move? Honestly, this feels like a classic low-risk, high-reward situation. They have very little to lose, but potentially a lot to gain.
Yang has already shown flashes of qualities that simply cannot be taught, like a high basketball IQ and rare physical tools.
As mentioned earlier, Portland will likely use him primarily in drop coverage, and with the recent addition of Jrue Holiday, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league at fighting through screens, Yang will have real help next to him on defense.
Beyond Holiday, the Blazers also have intriguing young talent in the backcourt on both ends of the floor, which should create a supportive environment for Yang to grow.
And there's another angle worth considering—marketing. Yang's arrival offers a major opportunity for the NBA.
The potential of a Chinese NBA player always brings significant attention, especially considering the size and influence of the Asian and, particularly, Chinese market.
The most famous example, of course, is Yao Ming. Now, it's neither fair nor productive to compare Yang to Yao; they're different players in different eras of basketball, and such comparisons only add unnecessary pressure. We all know how things ended with Yi Jianlian.
But even if Hansen Yang can carve out a solid, respectable NBA career, it could have a massive impact commercially.
Yang already has a strong support system around him, and the fact that he's represented by Rich Paul, the high-profile agent of LeBron James, says a lot.
That connection likely played a role in his rapid rise up the draft board.
These are the kinds of details that can quietly increase a player's chances of success. Not every prospect enters the league with this level of backing or with people around them who understand how to manage a serious, long-term project.
For Yang, being in a well-structured and professionally guided environment could make all the difference as he adjusts to the NBA.
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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