The 20-year-old Chinese center, standing at 7-foot-2, was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft—a selection that raised eyebrows due to his raw talent and international pedigree, drawing comparisons to a modern Yao Ming with guard-like skills. After a rocky start to his NBA preseason, Hansen delivered a statement performance in Portland’s 124-123 thriller win over the Sacramento Kings on October 10, 2025, at the Moda Center, silencing early doubters and sparking widespread buzz about his ceiling.
**Performance Breakdown**
In just 17 minutes off the bench, Hansen tallied **16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks**, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field (including 2-of-2 from three-point range) and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. His efficiency was eye-popping, especially considering his size—he became the first 7-footer in Blazers history to go perfect from deep in a preseason game with multiple attempts.
The real fireworks came in the third quarter, where he erupted for **14 points in a blistering five-minute stretch**, helping Portland outscore Sacramento by 10 in the frame to seize control. This hot streak flipped the script on a sluggish first half, where he struggled with defensive positioning (including getting beaten by Domantas Sabonis) and had only managed 2 points entering the period.
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