Yang Hansen showed love to Damian Lillard on Thursday following the news that the nine-time All-Star would be rejoining the Trail Blazers.

"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.'"

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.

Is Yang Hansen the Steal of the NBA Draft? Every NBA Draft has its fair share of surprises, and Yang Hansen is quickly making a case as this year’s biggest one. The 7-foot rookie didn’t generate major buzz before draft night,

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,

No.7 pick Jeremiah Fears and No. 13 pick Derik Queen both played major roles as for the Pelicans but No. 16 pick Yang Hansen and the Portland Trail Blazers emerged with a 93-86 victory.

We're not sure how familiar the Portland Trail Blazers' front office is with the sunken San José, but they displayed a similarly dauntless mindset by selecting Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center from China,

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.