Team reporter: Yang Hanson's struggles in the NBA stem from three main reasons, yet confidence in his long-term future remains strong.

On January 22nd Beijing time, Trail Blazers reporter Sean Highkin recently expressed continued confidence in Yang Hanson's long-term prospects. Highkin noted that the reason Yang has failed to display the advantages observed in the Summer League and recent G League appearances,is primarily because the role assigned to him by the Trail Blazers at present is not suitable.This factor’s influence is just as significant as any other problem.

“In the G League, his style resembles what we saw in the Summer League: initiating offense from the free-throw line area, and on both ends of the floor, he leads the team’s offense with apparent ease. This is ultimately the type of game the Trail Blazers want him to develop, butthe current team roster cannot support him in this role—this issue, alongside physical toughness and language barriers, is a key reason for his struggles in the NBA..”

Trail Blazers media outlet Rip City Project believes that based on Yang Hanson’s occasional bright moments, Highkin’s optimism is understandable, but this hope rests on an ideal scenario that may never come true, also exposing significant risks in the Trail Blazers’ draft strategy.

Yang Hanson’s offensive role will ultimately determine the trajectory of his professional careerand might even define whether the Trail Blazers’ 2025 NBA draft pick turns out to be a steal or a bust. Of course, his career could land anywhere between these extremes—even if he never becomes a star, he still has a chance to establish himself and play in the NBA for many years. He has already proven to be a player with high basketball IQ, a trait that will help him gradually find his rhythm in the coming years. However, to reach that enviable ceiling of talent, Yang must eventually become the offensive centerpiece of his team.

This is precisely why Rip City Project lacks confidence in his long-term outlook.The outlet points out that the Trail Blazers cannot overhaul their entire roster for a rookie averaging only 2.4 points per game; moreover, the team is currently experiencing a star-level breakthrough from Avdija, and the tactical approach has already taken shape without needing drastic changes.As Avdija has proven highly efficient as a ball-handling forward, questions arise about how Yang Hanson can fit into such a system. Is the Trail Blazers’ draft gamble likely to backfire?

The media also highlights that the biggest gap between the G League and the NBA lies in size and physicality. Watching his G League games, one can see he exerts height advantage over opponents,and some tactics that work in the CBA still succeed in the G League but completely fail in the NBA.

Nonetheless, this remains the greatest uncertainty in Yang Hanson’s future development. The Trail Blazers clearly have high hopes for this first-round pick—otherwise, they would not have made such an unconventional draft choice, and the team will do everything possible to justify that decision.

Although his NBA career has started slowly, Yang Hanson’s potential ceiling is still highly appealing. Yet currently, that ceiling remains theoretical. He appears lost on both ends of the court, and the path to becoming the team’s offensive leader is difficult and uncertain.