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.
