https://www.scmp.com/rss/524065/feed Yang Hansen is a Chinese professional basketball player recently drafted 16th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Previously a dominant centre for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association, he earned multiple accolades including two-time CBA All-Star, All-CBA Domestic First Team honours, and was named CBA Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in 2024. Known for his imposing height, exceptional passing, and strong low-post scoring, Hansen also led the CBA in... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese basketball prospect Yang Hansen was selected as one of the 28 players for next month’s Rising Stars Challenge on Monday. Featuring some of the best first- and second-year NBA talent, along with players from the NBA G League, the challenge is set to take place on February 13 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend. Top draft pick in 2025 Cooper Flagg was also selected, along with Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel. A No 16 draft pick by the Portland Trail... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3341353/chinese-basketball-prospect-yang-hansen-makes-nba-rising-stars-team-all-star-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3341353/chinese-basketball-prospect-yang-hansen-makes-nba-rising-stars-team-all-star-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:35:41 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Yang Hansen, the 216cm (7ft 1in) rookie from China, made his first NBA start on Sunday for the Portland Trail Blazers. Hansen, picked 16th overall in last summer’s draft, moved into the starting line-up to face the Memphis Grizzlies after the Trail Blazers’ primary centres, Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, missed the game. Williams was a late drop-out because of illness and Clingan missed his second straight game with a left lower leg injury. The Grizzlies built a big lead in the first... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3335572/chinas-yang-hansen-makes-first-nba-start-portland-trail-blazers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3335572/chinas-yang-hansen-makes-first-nba-start-portland-trail-blazers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:11:22 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer On November 9, 73 teams and more than 20,000 athletes representing China’s provinces, municipalities and regions will descend on Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong to take part in the 15th National Games. Often referred to as the country’s Olympics, the Games were first held in Beijing in September and October 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the decades, the Games have undergone other significant changes. The first four editions were... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331939/powerhouse-provinces-rundown-teams-dominate-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3331939/powerhouse-provinces-rundown-teams-dominate-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Yang Hansen said he needed to adapt to the NBA and improve his overall game after making his debut for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Taken 16th overall in this summer’s draft, Yang came off the bench to play just over five minutes in the first half as the hosts lost 118-114 at home to the Anthony Edwards-inspired Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener. Edwards, who set a career high last season with an average of 27.6 points, erupted for 41 points on 14 of 28 shooting, while... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3330047/nba-portlands-yang-hansen-reflects-areas-where-hes-not-good-enough-after-nba-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3330047/nba-portlands-yang-hansen-reflects-areas-where-hes-not-good-enough-after-nba-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan All eyes in the sports memorabilia world are on top NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg as he prepares to make his professional debut on Wednesday, with his rookie card expected to be highly sought after. But what should you do if you find one? Cash in, like an 11-year-old in Los Angeles did with a rare card for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, or hold on and hope the Dallas Mavericks’ rookie lives up to the hype. That, according to industry chief David Leiner, is the potentially... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3329763/collectors-all-chasing-cooper-flaggs-nba-rookie-card-should-you-sell-or-keep-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3329763/collectors-all-chasing-cooper-flaggs-nba-rookie-card-should-you-sell-or-keep-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan This year’s NBA China Games concluded on Sunday night, but close-season developments on and off the court have added to the intrigue over which teams could make a visit in the coming seasons. After the Brooklyn Nets beat the Phoenix Suns 111-109 in Macau on Sunday to split their two-game pre-season series, the Post revealed the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets would face off in another mouthwatering clash at The Venetian Arena in 12 months. A combined attendance of 22,634 from two... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3328819/nba-china-games-celtics-trail-blazers-thrown-mix-teams-coming-next-few-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3328819/nba-china-games-celtics-trail-blazers-thrown-mix-teams-coming-next-few-years?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:00:23 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan More elite basketball players from China could emerge and play professionally in the United States after the NBA announced a multi-year deal with its counterpart, the CBA, on Friday. Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, called the agreement a “transformational partnership” that would allow China’s next generation to become “the greatest players they can be”. News of the league’s partnership with the Chinese Basketball Association came hours before the first of the NBA China Games between the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3328472/nba-boss-adam-silver-calls-new-multi-year-deal-china-transformational-partnership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3328472/nba-boss-adam-silver-calls-new-multi-year-deal-china-transformational-partnership?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 04:19:00 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press While rookie Yang Hansen prepares for his first NBA season, the Portland Trail Blazers are getting ready for the onslaught of attention their Chinese big man will bring to the team. Expectations are high for the 20-year-old, who has faced the inevitable comparisons to fellow countryman and former NBA great Yao Ming. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said the 7ft 1in (2.15m) centre would be “right there in the mix” in Portland’s plans this season. “I think Hansen’s done a really good job these last... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3327364/chinas-trail-blazers-rookie-yang-hansen-faces-great-expectations-portland-and-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3327364/chinas-trail-blazers-rookie-yang-hansen-faces-great-expectations-portland-and-home?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan China will take on New Zealand in basketball’s Fiba Asia Cup semi-finals in Saudi Arabia on Saturday after a victory over South Korea that coach Guo Shiqiang said had earned his team some respect. A 79-71 win on Thursday at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City set up a Saturday evening clash with the Tall Blacks, who overcame a 22-point deficit to send Lebanon packing with a 90-86 win. Chinese fans celebrated a hard-fought victory featuring a series of controversial calls, as their country reached... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3322019/china-basketball-team-earn-respect-against-koreans-reach-first-asia-cup-semi-decade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3322019/china-basketball-team-earn-respect-against-koreans-reach-first-asia-cup-semi-decade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:45:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong pair Oliver Xu and Ma Kong-san have found their way into the Chinese Basketball Association after both were selected at the league’s draft on Saturday. Xu, 29, was taken by Nanjing Monkey Kings with the No 9 pick in the opening round, while Ma, 24, was picked up by Sichuan Blue Whales in the second round, with the overall No 22 pick. Nanjing and Sichuan finished 12th and 19th, respectively, in the 20-team league last season. The 6ft 2in (1.90-metre) Xu, who plays as a guard, joined the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3319679/hong-kongs-oliver-xu-and-ma-kong-san-drafted-chinese-basketball-association-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3319679/hong-kongs-oliver-xu-and-ma-kong-san-drafted-chinese-basketball-association-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 06:35:57 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese rookie Yang Hansen impressed on his NBA Summer League debut for the Portland Trail Blazers in Las Vegas on Friday, drawing excitement from fans on social media. The 20-year-old displayed several impressive facets to his game during the 106-73 win over the Golden State Warriors, underlining why he was the No 16 overall draft pick. Yang bagged 10 points, four rebounds, five assists, three blocks, three turnovers, six fouls and one steal in just 24 minutes. A leading Blazers fan account... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3317968/nba-fans-react-yang-hansens-trail-blazers-debut-new-face-portland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3317968/nba-fans-react-yang-hansens-trail-blazers-debut-new-face-portland?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 06:49:43 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s new basketball golden boy, Yang Hansen, has been handed the No 16 jersey for the Portland Trail Blazers, a nod to the draft pick that stunned fans across the world. Yang was selected 16th overall in the NBA draft in New York last week, a move that was called “unconventional” and what one league executive said was the “wildest pick I’ve ever seen”. The 20-yer-old could feature for the Portland Trail Blazers as soon as July 11, when his side take on the Golden State Warriors in the NBA... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316237/yang-hansen-just-good-he-could-start-game-right-now-trail-blazers-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316237/yang-hansen-just-good-he-could-start-game-right-now-trail-blazers-coach-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 03:00:14 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Yang Hansen was selected 16th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA draft in New York on Wednesday, in a move that stunned the league and was called “unconventional” by his new boss. No one expected Yang to go early in the first round of the draft, not least the man himself, who was sitting in the stands among fans at the Barclays Centre when his name was called. And Portland traded down from No 11 to get him on the eve of his 20th birthday, in what one front-office official called... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3315855/chinas-yang-hansen-taken-16th-overall-nba-draft-memphis-grizzlies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3315855/chinas-yang-hansen-taken-16th-overall-nba-draft-memphis-grizzlies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 02:16:43 +0000