Yang starts to scale steep learning curve

With all his strengths and weaknesses fully exposed during the preseason tests, China's star rookie Yang Hansen has vowed to quickly pick up his pace to fight for a spot on the Portland Trail Blazers' regular-season roster.

Despite the hype surrounding his preseason performances, Yang, Portland's first-round draft pick, has signed off a four-game rehearsal with a sobering reminder of the work that lies ahead — to get stronger, quicker and add more sophistication to his game, as he strives for more regular-season minutes in the paint, where fierce physical battles set the tone in the world's highestlevel league.

Yang's offensive talent, highlighted in his play-making ability, 3-point shooting and agility that his 7-foot-1(2.16-meter) frame belies, has backed up Portland's decision of selecting him at a higher-than-expected 16th pick, but his lack of speed, strength and conditioning, and defensive awareness, which were already exploited by opponents in his first preseason, have emerged as the 20-year-old's major hurdles if he is to live up to his billing in the NBA as China's next "big thing".

The magnitude of the challenge, under high expectations from fans both at home and in the United States, was laid bare when the always-smiling youngster wept on the bench, after fouling out in Portland's fourth and final preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Thursday.

"Yes, there were a few tears, but I am OK," Yang said of the emotional end to his fourth preseason game, where he only managed three points and one assist in 15 minutes of the 129-132 loss to Utah.

"I got emotional because I didn't play well enough, while I could still hear fans sitting on my left cheering out loud for me. I'm really grateful, but I feel that I let them down," said Yang, whose minutes were cut short after getting penalized one too many times.

After also fouling out on his debut — Portland's 123-129 loss to the Golden State Warriors — Yang proved his worth as a high-ranking prospect with a strong comeback in his second preseason outing on Oct 10, scoring 16 points to go with four rebounds, one assist and three blocks to help Portland secure a 124-123 win over the Sacramento Kings, its only preseason victory.

The 20-year-old rookie has averaged eight points, shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line, 3.5 rebounds, one assist and 1.2 blocks in 18.4 minutes per night across four preseason games for the Trail Blazers, delivering on his promise as a intriguing talent to watch.

At his best, his offensive game, which has drawn comparisons to the versatile "point-center" role of Denver Nuggets' three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic, was already there, but it is his game on the other side of the court that will ultimately define the ceiling of his career in the NBA.

He had to foul 5.3 times per game to try to contain opponents in defense, with his efforts compromised by his slow movement in rotation, poor sense of positioning and habits from the CBA game, which appeared incompatible to NBA officiating.

"The learning curve happens, and it will continue to happen. He will be better some nights than others. But I thought it was OK. This is how most of our rookies look," Portland's head coach Chauncey Billups said of Yang's performance after the first preseason game against Golden State.

"He cares so much and he just felt like he let the team down, and he didn't. This is all about him getting the experience through some reps and development. There's nothing to be negative about."

Yang, who's proving to be a fan favorite off the court in Portland, where his jersey is already among the best-selling items at the Trail Blazers' official store, knows clearly where to push for some instant improvements.

Harder training in the gym, smarter defensive reads and more English lessons are on his to-do list for the regular season, which tips off on Wednesday for the Trail Blazers when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center in Portland.

"I have a lot of catching-up to do, particularly in physical contests and my experience in defense," said Yang after his final preseason game.

"I have some defensive habits that, in the NBA, are illegal and that I need to correct, I need to keep up with the pace of the team and better understand the tactics.

"To prepare for the regular season, I will have to eat well, drink well and sleep well, as well as improve my English quicker."

With last season's All-Defensive Team backup center Robert Williams III sidelined by injury, Yang appears poised to step in as Portland's first-choice reserve behind newly minted starting big Donovan Clingan, Portland's overall seventh pick at the 2024 draft.

The competition against Clingan, a 2.18-meter solid stretch five, who apparently rebounds and protects the rim better than Yang does at the moment, is expected to keep the young Chinese prospect on his toes and push him to work hard in every practice and scrimmage — all while trying to prove his value in what will likely be a confined role in the team's crowded front court.

The good news is Yang has strong backing.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who just returned from a preseason trip to China, said he's been watching Yang and hopes his budding NBA career will inspire some of his compatriots to follow suit.

"I had an opportunity to see Yang Hansen play at the Las Vegas Summer League, and he looks like a terrific prospect for the NBA," Silver said on Oct 10 during the 2025 NBA China Games tour in Macao.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn