Blazers’ Yang Hansen’s Summer League Performance Called a ‘Mixed Bag’

The 2025 NBA Summer League has wrapped up and John Hollinger of The Athletic outlined his major takeaways from the games (subscription required).

One of those takeaways was Portland Trail Blazers’ rookie center Yang Hansen, who Hollinger dubbed the biggest story of Summer League.

Literally and figuratively, the 7-foot-1 Yang was a big deal in Vegas. He was neither the best nor the worst player at summer league, but he definitely garnered the most attention as a mystery man from overseas.

As far as basketball, it was a mixed bag. Yang is huge, willingly physical and has some sizzle as a passer from the top of the key; it also looks like he can make enough 3s to keep defenses honest. Despite all the social media clips, however, his overall numbers were pretty pedestrian. He disappointed on the glass and may struggle changing ends and guarding in space. His ultimate success may depend on whether he can mash in the paint well enough to dissuade opponents from covering him with smalls.

Yang played four games in Summer League and averaged 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 blocks per game. He was held out of Portland’s final game of the event after impressing in the first four. The rookie will likely begin the upcoming season coming off the bench and competing for the starting role with second-year big man Donovan Clingan and veteran Robert Williams III.

Hollinger also mentioned a list of rookies that impressed, second-year players who stood above their competition, players to watch, recently signed players and still-unsigned players. No other Blazers made an appearance in the article.