Yang Hansen Bio
Yang Hansen, born June 26, 2005, in Zibo, Shandong Province, China, is a Chinese professional basketball player who currently plays for the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League, on assignment from the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He was selected 16th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2025 NBA Draft before being traded to the Trail Blazers. Yang is the ninth Chinese player to be drafted to the NBA and the third-highest overall draft pick from his country.
Standing 216 cm tall and weighing 122 kg, Yang plays the center position and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young big men in Chinese basketball. Before reaching the NBA, he built a strong résumé with the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he earned multiple individual honors and represented China on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Yang Hansen was born on June 26, 2005, in Zibo, a city in Shandong Province, China, into a supportive family with a clear connection to sports. His father, Yang Lin, works as an electrician and is also an amateur basketball player, while his mother, Zhu Jing, works as an accountant. Growing up in this environment, Yang was introduced to basketball at an early age and began playing the sport during childhood.
He joined a club for training during the third grade of elementary school, marking the start of a more structured athletic development. Yang later enrolled at Zibo Sports School, where he continued to refine his basketball fundamentals while balancing his education. Around 2020, at the invitation of the Qingdao Guoxin Haitian Club, he entered the club’s youth training system, which became the foundation of his professional career.
Path to Professional Basketball
Yang’s youth career gained national attention when, in 2021, the Qingdao Guoxin Haitian Youth Team defeated Tsinghua High School in the finals to win the U17 National Championship. During that tournament, he was recognized as the Best Defensive Player, showcasing the rim protection skills that would later define his game. In 2022, the Qingdao Guoxin Haitian Youth Team defended the U17 National Championship, and Yang was named the Most Valuable Player.
These championship runs highlighted Yang’s rapid development and drew the attention of scouts both domestically and internationally. His performances at the youth level also translated to international competition, as he represented China at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, where he averaged 12.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and five blocks, leading the tournament in blocks and earning a place on the All-Second Team.
Yang Hansen Career
Early Career with the Qingdao Eagles (2023–2025)
During the 2023–24 Chinese Basketball Association season, Yang was promoted to the Qingdao Eagles’ first team, beginning his professional career. On October 23, 2023, he made his professional debut in the first round of the regular season against Beijing Enterprises. He quickly became a key contributor and was selected as the starting player for the North Division Team in that season’s CBA All-Star Game.
In his rookie campaign, Yang averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and three assists per game. NBA personnel visited the Qingdao training complex on multiple occasions to observe him, but he ultimately chose not to participate in the 2024 NBA Draft. At the end of the season, he was named both the CBA Rookie of the Year and the CBA Defensive Player of the Year, signaling his arrival as a future star.
CBA Breakthrough (2024–2025)
In his second season with the Qingdao Eagles, Yang continued to build on his strong rookie year. He was again named CBA Rookie of the Year, CBA All-Star, and earned a place on the All-CBA Domestic First Team. He also represented the senior national team for the first time in February 2024, making his debut in the 2025 FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers against Mongolia.
His dominant play in the paint and elite passing vision made him one of the most talked-about prospects outside the NBA. Over two professional seasons with the Qingdao Eagles, Yang established himself as the most accomplished young Chinese center in the league and set the stage for his eventual transition to American basketball.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2025–Present)
On June 25, 2025, Yang was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies as the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Shortly after, his draft rights were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, alongside future draft considerations, in exchange for the draft rights of Cedric Coward. The move surprised many observers, but it gave Yang a clear path to an NBA organization that has prioritized player development.
Yang is the highest Chinese draft pick since Yi Jianlian in 2007 and the third-highest draft pick ever from China. Throughout his rookie NBA season, he has been assigned to the Rip City Remix, the Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate, where he continues to develop his game and adjust to the American professional style of play.
Driving Style and Strengths
Yang plays primarily as a center and is best known for his combination of size, court vision, and defensive instincts. His track-type strength lies in the low post, where he uses his 216 cm frame to score efficiently and protect the rim. He is also a capable passer for his position, often drawing comparisons to traditional playmaking big men who can initiate offense from the high post or the elbow.
Notable Events and Milestones
Yang’s most significant milestones include winning the CBA Rookie of the Year in both 2024 and 2025, capturing the CBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, and earning two CBA All-Star selections. His selection as the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft marked the most high-profile moment of his career so far and cemented his place as one of China’s most important basketball exports.
Yang Hansen Career Wins
Yang’s win résumé spans youth-level national titles, professional CBA honors, and international recognitions. While he has not yet recorded NBA wins at the major league level, his collection of CBA awards and U17 championships reflect a consistent winning impact from an early age.
CBA Highlights
Yang won the CBA Rookie of the Year award in both 2024 and 2025, becoming one of the few players to capture the honor in consecutive seasons. He was named CBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and selected as a CBA All-Star in both 2024 and 2025. He also earned a place on the All-CBA Domestic First Team in each of his first two professional seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the CBA, Yang helped the Qingdao Guoxin Haitian Youth Team win the U17 National Championship in both 2021 and 2022, earning Best Defensive Player honors in 2021 and Most Valuable Player recognition in 2022. He also led the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in blocks and was named to the All-Second Team of the tournament.
Yang Hansen Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Yang Hansen was raised in Zibo, Shandong Province, in a family with a clear athletic connection. His father, Yang Lin, is an electrician who also plays amateur basketball, providing Yang with early exposure to the sport. His mother, Zhu Jing, works as an accountant and has supported his basketball journey from a young age.
Personal Life
Yang has publicly shared that he enjoys sleeping, eating, and playing video games on his PlayStation 5 during his free time. Off the court, he is focused on his continued development as a professional basketball player and on adapting to life in the United States with the Portland Trail Blazers organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a defining year for Yang Hansen, beginning with his dominant second CBA campaign and culminating in his historic NBA Draft selection. He wrapped up his time with the Qingdao Eagles by repeating as CBA Rookie of the Year and earning another All-CBA Domestic First Team nod, reinforcing his status as the top young prospect in Chinese basketball.
Following the 2025 NBA Draft, Yang joined the Portland Trail Blazers and was assigned to the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League, where he has been working to translate his CBA success to the American professional game. The assignment allows him to gain meaningful playing time while learning the Trail Blazers’ system and adjusting to a faster, more physical style of basketball.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Yang’s rookie NBA season is centered on continued growth, increased comfort in the G League environment, and eventual contributions to the Trail Blazers’ main roster. His combination of size, skill, and international experience positions him as a long-term piece of Portland’s rebuilding plans and a flag-bearer for the next generation of Chinese basketball talent.