The Portland Path Blazers made a surprising draft selection within the first spherical, which receives a ton of criticism. With the sixteenth selection on the NBA 2025 NBA, the Blazers took Yang Hansen, a 20 -year -old man from China.
Hansen measures seven toes, two inches and performed two skilled seasons in Chinese language Basketball Affiliation.
Throughout these two seasons, it was stable, with a median of 33.1 minutes per match and picked up 16.6 factors, 10.5 rebounds and three.0 assists per recreation.
Hansen Yang Cooking Alex Sarr through the U19 2023 World Cup pic.twitter.com/d0gwqwfyca
– Kevin ❄️ (@ky_pdx) June 27, 2025
The choice of Portland arouses criticism of a number of folks within the NBA circles as a result of top of the Blazers which drafted it.
A number of Draft specialists armed Hansen to go to the second spherical and have been on the left that he had been chosen in the midst of the primary spherical.
John Hollinger of athletics is skeptical concerning the selection, specifically given the incoherent capability of the NBA groups to cowl worldwide basketball abilities.
“The truth that Yang was not the very best participant within the Chinese language League ought to be a direct pink flag as a candidate within the first spherical; it’s a league the place guys like Kenny Lofton Jr., Harry Giles, Tacko Fall and Tj Leaf destroy folks night time after night time, and Yang was … stable. Okay, even. However not dominant, ” Hollinger wrote in an article on athletics.
“To make use of some latest comparisons, it was not Alperen şengün destroying the Turkish league as 18 -year -old man or adolescents Dario Šarić and Jusuf Nurkić of Clown within the Adriatic League.
“Whereas Yang launched spicy passes to the mix harvester (the place his 22 factors and eight assists in 31 minutes actually made an impression), he had a damaging price of help to the Chinese language League for the season. He’s additionally 20-a yr older than the One-Ands of this venture.
“Perhaps I am mistaken right here and Yang explodes and makes me eat my phrases. However traditionally, the information from skilled leagues overseas are extra predictive than NCAA figures. They don’t paint a good picture for the wager of the Blazers right here.”
The record of Blazers contains 4 completely different facilities that want minutes now, with the promising recruit Donovan Clungan deserving extra taking part in time. Robert Williams III and Deandre Ayton are two main contracts that may in all probability additionally require minutes in rotation.
The choice of Yang may point out potential transactions to return to the middle. Williams III and Ayton are linked to a number of NBA groups who want facilities, and making an allowance for this nice wage, the crew may search to change into youthful and cheaper on the heart.
Whereas the Blazers get backlash for taking Yang within the first spherical, the good Chinese language man may have the prospect to show that skeptics are mistaken.
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Oregon has resolved to maintain the Blazers in Portland in the midst of the sale
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Blazers linked to the right alternative of Robert Williams III
For extra information and notes on the Blazers of Portland Path, go to Portland Path Blazers on Si.
