Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen has made his aspirations for his NBA career clear: to grow into a versatile player and help his team win games.
Speaking with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, the 20-year-old center was asked about his long-term goals in the league.
“I mean, to be honest, I can’t say anything big,” Hansen said, via HoopsHype. “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. Like, grab more wins.”
Hansen, who was drafted 16th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies on June 25 before being traded to Portland, became the ninth Chinese player ever selected in the NBA Draft. His selection also marked the highest pick from China since Yi Jianlian went sixth overall in 2007.
In his final season with Qingdao in the Chinese Basketball Association, Hansen averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game on 58.6% shooting.
He then appeared in three games during the 2025 NBA Summer League, where he posted averages of 11.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 46.4% from the field.
The rookie’s focus on versatility reflects his evolving skill set. In addition to his rebounding and interior defense, Hansen has improved his outside shooting, connecting on 36.4% of his three-point attempts in Summer League.
