Yang Hansen is coming off the best game of his promising young career. Granted, it came at the G League level with the Rip City Remix, but it's encouraging nonetheless. Portland's rookie finished with 31 points, eight rebounds, and three assists while shooting 14-of-16 from the field in 32 minutes.
Hansen showcased his entire offensive arsenal, whether it was his footwork, soft touch, floor spacing, or court vision. The Remix was running the offense through him as if he were, dare we say, Nikola Jokic.
This looks like an entirely different player compared to the one who has struggled to crack Tiago Splitter's rotation. That's typically the case when NBA players are sent to the G League, but not quite to this extreme.
In this contest, Hansen had a glaring size advantage that he capitalized on in the post, opening up his entire game. That hasn't been the case at the NBA level, where Hansen's physical tools are actually a disadvantage, given his lack of foot speed.
Yang Hansen just showcased the upside that justifies Portland's draft gamble
There's a steep curve for Hansen to translate his game to the next level. In part because he's best with the ball in his hands, but doesn't get that opportunity with Portland. Hansen's still years away from being considered a reliable offensive hub, but games like this serve as a reminder of why Portland invested in him in the first place.
Many have prematurely declared Hansen a bust, but it's far too early to write off the 20-year-old. Blazers insider Sean Highkin has even previously stated that he remains "very bullish" on Hansen despite the slow start to his NBA career.
He has a concerningly low floor but one of the highest ceilings in the entire 2025 draft class. That's the high-risk, high-reward type of pick we wanted Portland to gamble on in the draft, as it's clear they need to add more star power to raise their ceiling.
The determining factor in Hansen unlocking that untapped potential could simply come down to confidence. He looks much more comfortable in the G League, and plays like he knows he's the best player on the court. That's promising for Portland, as it could signal that he needs more time to adjust to life playing overseas in the NBA. The skillset has always been there, which is rare for a 7-foot-2 big man. Translating that to the next level is the challenging part, but at least Portland has time on its side.
We're holding our Hansen stock, because we don't want to be the ones who sold early on the off chance this becomes the NBA's next Bitcoin.