In his first NBA preseason game, young forward Yang Hansen brought both excitement and a few rough edges to the court. Playing 21 minutes for the Portland Trail Blazers in a 129-123 loss to the Golden State Warriors, the 20-year-old tallied 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 turnovers, fouling out in the final moments.
Yang started a bit hesitant but found his rhythm in the second half, showcasing the athleticism and rim pressure that convinced Portland to draft him in the first round. Yet, the speedy Warriors exposed his pace and defensive rotations, reminding everyone there's still work to do. 🤓
After the game, Yang admitted the preseason was a step up in physicality from summer league. "I have to get tougher in these competitive matchups and tighten up many aspects in training," he said. 💪
He also described guarding Steph Curry as surreal: "He felt like an NBA 2K character come to life. I play against them in the game, so seeing Green and Curry in real life blew my mind." 🎮🏀
Yang's debut left fans with clear takeaways: improve lateral quickness, sharpen defensive reads, and learn to thrive in a more focused role. If he checks those boxes, this bold pick could pay big dividends for the Blazers. 🌟
Reference(s):
Yang Hansen makes NBA preseason debut as Blazers fall to Warriors
cgtn.com
