Is Yang Hansen likely to be sent down to the G League? He is expected to get significant playing time for development as the affiliate team has already started its training camp.

On October 29th Beijing time, the Rip City Remix, Portland’s G League affiliate team, kicked off their first day of training camp with players enthusiastically practicing in preparation for the new G League season. The training camp roster published earlier lists the Blazers’ three two-way contract players (Sissoko, Love, and Cook). It is widely expected that Yang Hansen, who has limited playing time at the moment, will soon join the G League to gain experience.

Before the new season started, local Portland media had already discussed the possibility of Hansen going to the G League to improve his skills. A Portland reporter mentioned on a podcast, “I think Yang Hansen clearly falls into the category of players who need long-term development. Everyone expects him to get plenty of playing time in the G League this year to hone his skills. I also recall that Blazers’ GM Cronin expressed a similar view when they drafted him — that Hansen would spend a lot of time with the Remix. Therefore, the team needs to create a good environment for him to fully realize his potential.”

“If his playing style really resembles Jokic’s — such as excellent passing, strong game reading, and delicate touch around the basket — then he can indeed do a lot of things... I think Yang Hansen currently has an obvious weakness, which is his defense still needs improvement. Additionally, his conditioning is another area that requires attention.”

So far this season, after four games, Yang Hansen’s stats are an average of 6.4 minutes per game, with 1.8 points, 1 rebound, and 0.5 blocks per game, shooting 12.5% from the field and 83.3% from the free-throw line.

Yang Hansen’s situation within the Blazers is unlikely to change significantly in the short term. Before the game against the Lakers, the Blazers’ new head coach Sprewell stated that Hansen is still a rookie learning to adapt to NBA play. He cannot be given extended minutes immediately, especially since the Blazers play at such a fast pace, so caution is necessary.

Sprewell also said, “I know expectations for him are high, but for now, this is the most suitable role for him. We will decide how much playing time to give him based on his performance and the team’s situation going forward.”

According to the G League official schedule, the 2025-26 season will start on November 8th Beijing time. The Rip City Remix’s first opponent will be the Santa Cruz Warriors. Will Yang Hansen appear on the game roster then? Let’s wait and see.