Chinese Rookie Yang Hansen Makes First NBA Start for Trail Blazers
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 first-year center from China, opened Sunday night’s game in the Portland Trail Blazers’ starting lineup, marking his first NBA start.
The No. 16 overall pick in last summer’s draft replaced injured centers Donovan Clingan, who missed his second straight contest with a left lower-leg contusion, and Robert Williams III, ruled out shortly before tipoff because of illness.
Memphis built an early cushion and defeated Portland 119-96.
Entering the night, Yang averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds. He totaled four points on 2-of-5 shooting and collected five rebounds in a little more than 19 minutes. All four points came in the third quarter and included a spin move and a dunk over 7-foot-3 Zach Edey.
“His beginning wasn’t great, but he finished the game better,” interim head coach Tiago Splitter said. “It was a great lesson for him to have this experience, to go there and play against a big guy similar to his size and strength.”
Midway through the third, Yang absorbed a hard shot near the basket and remained on the floor while play continued, leading to an Edey dunk at the opposite end. Splitter stormed toward half court to protest and was issued a technical foul.
“Players on the floor, you always take time to check if he’s all right,” Splitter said. “That’s why I got the tech.”
Yang, originally drafted by the Grizzlies before a draft-night trade sent him to Portland, spent the previous two seasons with the Qingdao Eagles in China, averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds in his final campaign before entering the NBA.
Source: ESPN
