Hansen Yang, a 7-foot-2 Chinese center, is starting to be on everybody's radar, especially with the 2025 NBA Draft around the corner and at only the age of 19. This past weekend, Yang wowed NBA scouts while participating in the Draft Combine in Chicago. He is already recognized for his height and skillset, but he proved himself immpressively in physical tests (specifically speed and agility) and scrimmages.
In speed and aglility tests, Yang ranked really well—something you hardly see from a player that size. In the scrimmages, Yang averaged about 12 points while adding rebounds and assists into the mix.
He stood out among most all the other bigs in this draft in basically every aspect of the game with his passing ability, shooting range, and ability to shoot three-point shots.
Yang's playing style is being compared to recent NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, referring to him as "Baby Jokić" due to his basketball IQ and ability to facilitate the game. With his improved level of play, Yang's performance rose up the draft boards.
He was once viewed as a second-round pick, but now in several mock drafts, Yang is being slotted in late first or early second round.
The day of the draft, June 26, 2025, will also be Yang's 20th birthday. Yang is with Klutch Sports (Rich Paul's agency) and he has completed private workouts with several teams already.
A Unique Skill Set with Room to Grow
Hansen Yang isn't just tall—he's talented before joining the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), he was averaging about 16 points, 10 rebounds, and close to three blocks a game. He even added a few assists, showing that he is a well-rounded player.
Hansen can keep a cool head in tense situations. He makes smart decisions and time and again he finds teammates with his accurate passing.
Hansen's shooting touch combined with his court awareness is a rarity for a player of his size, which makes him an appealing option for teams that need a modern center.
That said, he does have areas to improve upon. He will need to work on his conditioning and lateral quickness particularly when it comes to matching up against quicker guards.
It may not be realistic to expect him to contribute heavy NBA minutes right away, as multiple years of experience and training with the CBA would suggest he might have to spend time in the G-League college, he will need to adjust to the NBA.
That said, the upside is obvious. Teams aren't solely interested in what Hansen can do, but also in how good he could become with the right coaching and a few years of training.
If developed well, Hansen Yang could reach the ceiling of a quality stretch-five who has an impact on both ends of the floor.
