Yang Hansen reveals how Yao Ming's advice to enjoy life guided his mindset ahead of his NBA debut with the Trail Blazers.

Many NBA players have different stories for how they started playing basketball, but Portland Trail Blazers' rookie Yang Hansen's is unique.

The Portland Trail Blazers may have grabbed one of the biggest steals of the NBA draft with Hansen Yang. The 7-foot-1 big man did great things during his four games, and fans are thinking he could be the sort of big man they need.

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

Hansen Yang shared that he started playing basketball not out of passion, but because his father urged him to get active and lose weight.

Yang Hansen signals his readiness to embrace Dame Time as he teams up with Damian Lillard in Portland’s promising new chapter.

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Yang Hansen walks to the stage after being selected as the 16th pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Portland Trail Blazers signed center Yang Hansen to a rookie-scale contract, the team announced Tuesday. The Blazers acquired Yang during last week’s NBA draft by trading the No. 11 pick to Memphis for its No. 16 pick, a first-round pick in 2028 (via Orlando) and second-round picks in 2027 and 2028.