The jokes started on social media almost immediately. When legend Damian Lillard chose to return to the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, fans began crediting it to rookie Yang Hansen, who had played just a few Summer League games but had already begun ...

The Portland Trail Blazers moved to 3-1 in the 2025 NBA Summer League with a 102-83 win Thursday night over the Houston Rockets at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The Blazers, already eliminated from the four-team playoff round this weekend, will play a fifth game this weekend against an opponent yet to be determined.

The Portland Trail Blazers drafted Yang Hansen with the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and after an intital wave of scrutiny, the Chinese center is getting attention from rival NBA personel. Hansen is a 20-year-old big man who measures seven feet,

As we near the end of NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas, we have some sense of which players drafted outside the lottery may return positive value.

"For sure it was a big shock for me," he said through an interpreter during an ESPN interview. "When Adam Silver called my name, it surprised me. I was just sitting there finishing my fried chicken. I didn't even put my suit on. Suddenly they told me, 'Hansen, Hansen, put your suit on.'"

Portland Trail Blazers rookie center Yang Hansen appeared excited to make his Summer League debut with his new team at 8 p.m. Friday against the Golden State Warriors. • WATCH: Blazers vs Warriors basketball live for free with Fubo (free trial),

The Trail Blazers newest center is making waves on and off the court in Summer League as he looks to make an impact in year 1