The first big surprise of the NBA Draft came just over halfway through the first round.
After trading back, the Trail Blazers selected Hansen Yang out of China with their first pick of the night. Yang, a center, was expected to go in the second round, and he wasn't even invited to the draft by the league. However, he did show up to sit in the crowd and walked the stage after his pick.
Most basketball fans don't know much about Yang, who played the past two seasons for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association. So, why did Portland take him? Here's the breakdown.
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Why did the Trail Blazers draft Hansen Yang?
After trading back five picks, Portland selected center Hansen Yang out of China at pick No. 16 overall. The 7-1 center is now the third-highest-drafted player from China all-time, trailing only Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
Following the draft, Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin was very candid about what went into the selection, admitting that the franchise had been scouting him for nearly two years.
"He was the target — but the question was how far back could we move and still get him?" Cronin said. "It worked out well for us, we were able to move back five spots and still get the guy we wanted."
The executive acknowledged pushback, saying "We care about our fans — we want them to be excited about next season and the big picture, I think in times like this where we make what some are calling a questionable move, that they’ll be patient with what we’re trying to achieve."
Cronin cited Yang's high ceiling and an elite ability to pass the ball from the center position, saying Yang has a very high basketball IQ and he "helps build others up."
While his height is what initially stands out, Yang is a skilled player who handles and shoots the ball well for someone his size. In fact, Yang has been dubbed "The Chinese Jokic" for his skillset compared to his size.
The Portland Trailblazers have selected Hansen Yang with the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 26, 2025
Yang will be on Portland's roster this upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/FoeVZoEXCj
The center is an interesting fit in Portland since the Blazers have Deandre Ayton and Donavan Clingan at center already. However, ESPN reported on the draft broadcast that the team had been scouting Yang for two years, which helps explain their desire to draft him.
Yang was projected to be a second-round pick in this year's draft, but he showed up on night one in case a team selected him. Portland made that decision in the middle of the first round, allowing Yang the opportunity to have his moment with Adam Silver.
Yang Hansen is headed to the Trail Blazers after Memphis traded pick #16 to them.#NBADraft pic.twitter.com/fbqLiyJrCk
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 26, 2025
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Hansen Yang stats
Despite only playing two years in the CBA, Yang was very productive while being one of the youngest players in the league.
| Year | Games | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| 2023-24 | 51 | 33.3 | 15.0 | 10.8 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 55.4% | 22.6% | 62.3% |
| 2024-25 | 45 | 32.8 | 16.6 | 10.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 58.6% | 33.3% | 67.1% |
MORE: Meet Hansen Yang, the biggest mystery in this year's draft