Korean Media: Yang Hanson's Commercial Appeal Is Remarkable; If He Fails to Adapt to the NBA, Scouts May Face Penalties

On November 14th Beijing time, South Korean media OSEN recently wrote about Yang Hanson, mentioning his commercial drawing power and adjustment within the NBA. Below is the full report—

Although he has not received any playing time, he remains the most popular player on the team. This is the position of 20-year-old Portland Trail Blazers player Yang Hanson, who bears the expectations of 1.4 billion Chinese basketball fans.

The Trail Blazers managed a 121-119 comeback win against the Thunder. After this game, the Trail Blazers' record improved to 5 wins and 3 losses, while the previously undefeated Thunder, who held an 8-1 record, suffered their first loss of the season.

This victory was the result of team effort. The Trail Blazers have no superstar; instead, the team centers around Israeli core player Avdiya, forming a united front. Five players scored at least 16 points each in the game, enabling the comeback. Thunder player Alexander scored a massive 35 points, but the Trail Blazers held firm under pressure in the tightly contested fourth quarter to secure the win. The Moda Center’s 16,822 spectators were ecstatic.

However, among the Trail Blazers players, one individual remained solemn and rarely smiled. He is the Chinese big man Yang Hanson, a 20-year-old whom the Trail Blazers selected with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, full of expectations. Last season, he dominated the CBA league, averaging 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. Yet, compared to the NBA, the world’s top league, the gap remains a formidable obstacle.

In the game against the Thunder, Yang Hanson did not get even a single second of playing time. During practice, he warmed up diligently like his teammates and showed no lack of skill. Standing 2.16 meters tall, he excels at floaters and has three-point shooting ability, earning him the nickname "China’s Jokic." However, to establish himself in the NBA, he still has many shortcomings.

First, the team has extremely strong players in his position, making it hard for him to find playing time. Second-year center Klingen stands 2.18 meters tall and combines rapid mobility with excellent athleticism. Backup center Duop Reese, though only 2.06 meters tall, took five three-point shots in that game and made four. Compared to these teammates, Yang Hanson holds no clear advantage.

South Korean media OSEN had initially arranged with the NBA to interview Yang Hanson courtside. However, the situation changed drastically after the team’s head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested and resigned due to allegations of illegal gambling. The Trail Blazers, now leaderless, are confused about how to utilize Yang Hanson.

The NBA officially informed relevant parties: "Yang Hanson may be assigned to the development league at any time, and if that happens, this interview will be canceled automatically." In fact, many Chinese reporters dedicated to covering Yang Hanson have arrived in Portland, but due to the player's current situation, the interview could not proceed.

Local Portland media reported that "the team regrets using the 11th pick in the draft to select Coward and then trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies." Coward and Yang Hanson are both rookies, but Coward’s performance reached the level of Rookie of the Year, averaging 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, with a standout game scoring 27 points. The Trail Blazers missed out on such a promising rookie and chose to sign Yang Hanson, putting the team’s player planning in a difficult spot.

According to on-site reports, as the basketball representative of 1.4 billion Chinese people, Yang Hanson’s commercial appeal is astonishing. The number of Chinese fans traveling to Portland to watch games has reached a historic high. In stores around the team, merchandise related to Yang Hanson even surpasses that of superstar Lillard.The store not only sells jerseys with Yang Hanson’s name in Chinese characters but also T-shirts printed with his portrait, which have sold out.

By signing Yang Hanson, the Trail Blazers have successfully opened up a vast Chinese market.However, the team’s decision to sign him is not merely for merchandise sales. If Yang Hanson fails to adapt to the NBA’s pace, the Trail Blazers will have wasted a valuable first-round draft pick, and the scouting team could face sanctions.At present, it is highly likely that Yang Hanson will first be assigned to the Trail Blazers’ affiliated G League team, the Rip City Remix, where he can seek more playing time and development opportunities.

For Korean fans, the Trail Blazers hold special historical significance, as Korea’s first NBA player, Ha Seung-jin, made his NBA debut there in 2004. Like Yang Hanson, Ha Seung-jin was a tall center from East Asia. However, in the more than twenty years since Ha’s debut, no Korean player has appeared in an NBA game.

In sharp contrast, since Yao Ming’s success in the NBA, Chinese basketball has continuously pushed into the league, producing successors like Yi Jianlian, Zhou Qi, and Yang Hanson. Many Chinese players also compete in the NCAA, such as 20-year-old Wang Junjie at the University of San Francisco. China’s basketball spirit of courageously challenging the top level deserves high praise.For Korea, which has not had an NBA player for over twenty years, it is inappropriate to mock players like Yang Hanson. Merely making it to this world-class stage is worthy of respect.