"For sure it was a big shock for me," he said through an interpreter during an ESPN interview. "When Adam Silver called my name, it surprised me. I was just sitting there finishing my fried chicken. I didn't even put my suit on. Suddenly they told me, 'Hansen, Hansen, put your suit on.'"

The Portland Trail Blazers drafted Yang Hansen with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and after an intital wave of scrutiny, the Chinese center is getting attention from rival NBA personel. Hansen is a 20-year-old big man who measures seven feet,

One of the surprises at the 2025 NBA draft was the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Chinese Yang Hansen at No. 16 overall, a player many considered a fringe first-round prospect at best.

Yang Hansen, the Portland Trail Blazers' pick, surprised everyone at the NBA draft. He was eating fried chicken when his name was announced. Hansen's Summer League performance earned him the nickname 'Chinese Jokic'.

Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach discuss the latest news surrounding the Portland Trail Blazers.

I mean, to be honest, I can’t say anything big. If CB or coach uses me in the game, I will treasure every minute I have. I just try to do my job well and focus on my own game. In the long term, I just want to become a versatile player—try to help my team as much as I can.

Legler and Mares spoke for 15 minutes on Yang, and while there are some concerns about his defense and his ability to run up and down the court, they are full of praise for the Blazers rookie. Give it a listen, it starts at 3:45.

The Trail Blazers must trade Robert Williams III to resolve their center logjam and clear the path for Yang Hansen.