US reporter comments on Yang Hanshen's debut: footwork is the biggest asset, urgent need to improve switching defense

On July 12 Beijing time, Trail Blazers center Yang Hanshen was considered a standout player to watch in the Summer League. In his debut, the Trail Blazers fell 79-81 to the Suns. Yang logged 26 minutes, tallying 12 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, plus 4 turnovers and 4 fouls. His shooting was 5-for-10, 2-for-3 on threes, and 0-for-1 on free throws, with a plus-minus of +6. Trail Blazers reporter Jeremy Brener wrote an analysis of Yang's performance, as follows—

Highlights

As a 2.16-meter interior player, Yang Hanshen possesses solid footwork, demonstrated on both ends of the court. This is precisely why he was once considered a potential first-round pick. Evaluating his overall potential, his polished footwork is his greatest strength and a key reason for Trail Blazers fans to anticipate his future development.

Additionally, for his height, his passing ability stands out. He dished out 4 assists in this game, many of which displayed high basketball IQ. This advantage will help him steadily climb the team's rotation ladder.

Weaknesses

Despite his good on-court feel, Yang Hanshen failed to fully leverage his height advantage. His matchup in this game was against 2025 first-round interior player Maruach, who is also 2.16 meters tall and already has a year of NBA experience—a suitable test for Yang.

Maruach's physicality and strength completely overpowered Yang. If he gets overpowered by strength in Summer League interior battles, it will be difficult for him to win post-up matchups during the regular season. 2026 first-round pick Pete also caused him trouble repeatedly in physical confrontations.

Fortunately, Yang can gradually improve this through weight and muscle gain. He is only 21 years old and has plenty of room to grow.

Critical issue to address urgently

Multiple poor defensive decisions on the court fully exposed his inexperience as a newcomer to the NBA.

Both teams struggled with three-point shooting in this game, hitting only 15 of 64 attempts. All three of Maruach's made threes came when Yang failed to close out in time, allowing easy shots.

If Yang Hanshen cannot improve his perimeter switching defense, he will find it difficult to break into the Trail Blazers' regular rotation.With continued conditioning and strength training, his perimeter defense could theoretically improve, but time is running out: his current contract is only fully guaranteed for this season.