Yang Hansen Shock: Chinese Jokic or Draft Day Gamble? Blazers Bet Big on NBA's Biggest Enigma

In one of the boldest moves of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers stunned fans and experts alike by selecting Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick, nearly 30 spots ahead of consensus projections. Touted by fans as the 'Chinese Jokic', the 19-year-old Chinese centre had been expected to fall into the second round. Instead, Portland made him the highest-drafted Chinese player since Yao Ming went No. 1 in 2002.

Coming out of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), Yang is widely considered the draft's biggest mystery. His imposing size, at 7'1" tall, with a 7'2¾" wingspan and 253-pound frame, along with his passing touch and post moves, drew lofty comparisons to NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. But with limited international exposure and questionable defensive versatility, the Blazers' pick is either a visionary move or a monumental miscalculation.

As one NBA fan wrote on social media after the pick: 'They drafted a second-rounder at 16. But lowkey, I don't hate it'.

A Giant Talent Wrapped in Uncertainty

In the Chinese league, Yang racked up accolades: CBA Defensive Player of the Year, back-to-back Rookie of the Year honours, and two All-Star appearances by age 19. He averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.6 blocks per game with Qingdao. His combination of size, touch around the rim, and passing instincts have intrigued scouts. During the NBA Draft Combine, he wowed with flashy passes and nimble footwork unusual for a man of his size.

But questions remain. Yang Hansen shot just 22.6% from three and struggled to defend smaller, quicker players. The CBA's unique structure, where local stars dominate but athletic benchmarks differ from international play, makes it difficult to gauge how his success will translate. According to Sporting News, the CBA's rule limiting foreign players complicates evaluations of home-grown talent like Yang.

Scouts have noted his inability to consistently guard in space, a must in today's switch-heavy NBA defences. As one NBA executive put it, 'There are very few reference points of players, let alone teenage prospects, going from China to be impactful in the NBA'.

China's Post-Yao Hope, and Its Latest NBA Gamble

China's last NBA star, Yao Ming, left a towering legacy. Since his retirement in 2011, no Chinese player has become a consistent rotation piece in the league. Yang, who has received guidance from Yao himself, is now seen as China's most promising hope of breaking that drought.

Even Yao once acknowledged the pressure of that void: 'If 10 years from now we still use Yao Ming to represent China, it's a failure on my job', he told Sports Illustrated in 2019. Now, nearly 15 years on, the burden falls on Yang, a player Yao has mentored but who has forged his own path.

Unlike Yao, who had a more polished global résumé, Yang enters the league with limited tape and a steeper learning curve. Still, respected voices such as former NBA forward and 2024 CBA MVP Jared Sullinger believe in his potential: 'You can't teach his size, you can't teach his feel for the game', Sullinger told Sporting News.

Blazers' Big Bet: Boom or Bust?

For Portland, the selection of Yang could mark a franchise-defining moment. After acquiring the No. 16 pick from Memphis, the Blazers ignored conventional wisdom and trusted their eyes over mock drafts. It's a swing-for-the-fences play from a franchise stuck in the middle.

Could this be another Jokic story in the making? Or, is Yang destined to join the list of draft day gambles that never panned out? That depends on how fast he adapts to the NBA's speed, spacing, and defensive demands.

For now, Portland fans and Chinese basketball hopefuls alike wait with cautious excitement. Whether Yang Hansen becomes a breakout star or a footnote in draft history, his journey will be one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2025 NBA season.