Yang Hansen ‘just that good’ he could start game right now, Trail Blazers coach says
Portland head coach Chauncey Billups hints at Summer League debut for Chinese 20-year-old Yang Hansen
China’s new basketball golden boy, Yang Hansen, has been handed the No 16 jersey for the Portland Trail Blazers, a nod to the draft pick that stunned fans across the world.
Yang was selected 16th overall in the NBA draft in New York last week, a move that was called “unconventional” and what one league executive said was the “wildest pick I’ve ever seen”.
The 20-yer-old could feature for the Portland Trail Blazers as soon as July 11, when his side take on the Golden State Warriors in the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas, but head coach Chauncey Billups said fans might have to wait.
“You see all the centres that we have on our team, so it’s too early to tell on that,” Billups said.
“For me, I just see him continuing to get better and better, and learning our game, learning our system, offensively and defensively, learning the language – there’s just so much development that needs to happen.
“But we’d feel very comfortable putting him in a game right now; he’s just that good.