Trail Blazers reporter: Han Sen Yang faces language barriers but has excellent basketball instincts; expected to play 15-18 minutes in the season opener

On August 21 Beijing time, Trail Blazers reporter Danny Marang talked about Han Sen Yang on his latest podcast, stating that despite Yang’s ongoing language barrier, his basketball instincts shone through in Summer League. Marang is confident Yang will play as a backup center in the season opener, likely getting 15-18 minutes of action. Here are some highlights from Marang’s podcast—

“Yang has a strong grasp of basketball tactics,even as a newly 20-year-old who still faces language challenges, he’s able to direct teammates in real time, guiding their movement and screens to create space. His feel for the game is truly impressive.”

“For a big man, his spatial awareness is excellent as well. I hesitate to say this because I don’t want to add pressure, but his sense of the court is truly elite. In the Summer League, it’s rare for bigs to showcase passing skills. How many have you seen over the years who can really pass? Even among high draft picks, very few manage it.”

“Jokic is an incredible passer, but he’s one of the top 20 players in history—possibly one of the greatest passers ever. He once threw a one-handed pass from beyond half court to set up Aaron Gordon for an alley-oop dunk. That’s next level. I’m not saying Yang will reach Jokic’s heights, but his game sense, spatial awareness, and passing touch are all impressive.”

Marang also spoke with several scouts during the Summer League and mentioned Yang. “They believe Yang’s biggest offensive hurdle is his unfamiliarity with the NBA style of play. In the early 2000s, players could take four dribbles after catching the ball, but that’s not the case now. He often spins multiple times with the ball, which just doesn’t work anymore. Once you catch it in the post, you get two dribbles at most—then you need to pass or shoot, or the defense will collapse.”

“Everyone says he needs to get stronger, buthis calves are as thick as Yao Ming’s—he’s got great lower body strength and isn’t lacking power on offense. I think he needs to learn how to use his body better on defense, but offensively, he can hold his own physically.”

As for Yang’s playing time this season, Marang is quite optimistic. “He’ll definitely get on the court quickly;I’m very confident he’ll play in the season opener, and there’s a strong chance he’ll serve as the Blazers’ backup center in Game 1. Klingen will get 27-28 minutes,while Yang is likely to see 15-18 minutes of action.”

The Timberwolves are Portland’s opponent for the regular season opener, and Yang will likely get a chance to match up against big men like Gobert and Reid. Let’s look forward to his NBA debut.