NBA Draft surprise: China center Yang Hansen picked at No. 16, dealt to Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers provided the first shocker in the 2025 NBA Draft, nabbing China center Yang Hansen with the No. 16 pick. The Memphis Grizzlies made the pick for Portland as part of a trade that commissioner Adam Silver announced would be finalized later.
Hansen, who turns 20 on Thursday, was projected to be a mid-to-late second-round pick, but the Blazers are getting him despite already having a full stable of centers. Hansen, who wasn't invited to the Green Room by the NBA, was seated in the stands when his name was called. That's why his hat didn't fit properly — he didn't get measured for his cap like other top prospects did on Tuesday.
Yang is the first Chinese-born player to be drafted in the first round since Yi Jianlian in 2007, and the third-highest draft pick ever from China. Yao Ming was selected No. 1 in 2002.
He joins a Blazers team that has at center former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton, last year's No. 7 pick Donovan Clingan, as well as veteran Robert Williams III.
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Hansen played for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association for the past two seasons. Last season, he averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists while also recording 2.6 blocks per game. He shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range.
He was considered by draft analysts as a rising prospect, but no one projected him to be a first-round pick. Portland acquired the 16th pick from Memphis earlier in the draft when it traded the 11th pick to the Grizzlies. The Blazers also received a 2028 first-round pick and two second-round picks as part of the deal.
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