Boban: I believed Han-Sen Yang deserved to be picked higher than 16th overall. This young man is incredibly impressive and still has room to grow.

On October 15th Beijing time, former NBA player Boban Marjanović, who is 2.24 meters tall, participated in an ESPN show and discussed Yang Hansen. He disclosed that he had hoped Yang would be chosen earlier than the 16th pick.

“I visited China in the second half of last season and watched Yang Hansen play,” Boban said. “This guy is stunning — his movement, ball handling, shooting, and various moves like the Euro step are all very well executed. His dunks are spectacular too, almost like he can do whatever he wants on the court. Of course, the defense level in the Chinese league is still behind the NBA. But the key point is he’s very young and has potential to improve.”

“I asked his agent earlier about draft expectations, and they mentioned around the 45th to 50th pick. But he was actually selected 16th overall. Honestly, I think he could have gone even higher, but their expectations seemed to be only around 40 to 42. I’m really happy for him. Speaking of dribbling, after this interview, I need to practice my skills too — I can shoot, but I still need to work on other abilities.”

Later, reporter Wen Horst said, “Yang Hansen might become a very important player in the NBA because he affects whether the NBA can reignite the Chinese market. Keep in mind, we are past the ‘Yao Ming era,’ but Yao cultivated millions of NBA fans in China back then, so the Chinese market remains crucial for the NBA.”

Wen Horst continued, “Boban, do you know who was surprised by how high Yang was drafted? Chinese fans. They didn’t even expect Yang to reach this level. After the Trail Blazers picked him, they immediately waived Ayton to free up a spot. I know the Blazers have Klingen and some other young players to develop, but they clearly want to give this youngster more playing time. The Blazers definitely aim to make the playoffs or play-in tournament, but their future is really built around Henderson and the big men they have drafted.”

Perkins said, “Interestingly, on the day Yang Hansen was drafted, the atmosphere in the Blazers’ draft room was the most enthusiastic of the night. Do you remember that vibe? Many people were surprised, but plenty also thought, ‘Yes, he truly has that talent.’”