<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-shouts-out-superstar-yang-hansen');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Jrue Holiday shouts out ‘superstar’ Yang Hansen');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jrue-Holiday-shouts-out-superstar-Yang-Hansen.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Jrue Holiday shouts out ‘superstar’ Yang Hansen</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-29T13:23:46-07:00">July 29th, 1:23pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-29T13:23:46-07:00">July 29th, 1:23pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Veteran guard Jrue Holiday praised rookie big man Yang Hansen during a recent conversation with Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report, calling the 20-year-old center a “<a href="https://x.com/highkin/status/1950261925126033590" rel="noopener">superstar</a>” for his early performance with the Portland Trail Blazers.</p><p>“He’s been a superstar. He’s been hooping,” Holiday told Highkin while reflecting on Hansen’s presence in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League. “We were talking about it earlier, how much media he’s had in Vegas. He deserves it. He’s been doing his thing. I’m not sure anybody saw how well he would play, but he’s been playing well. I’m excited.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-rookie-yang-hansen-drops-quote-life-away-basketball">Hansen, selected 16th overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2025 NBA Draft</a>, drew attention for his court vision, rim protection, and mobility during Summer League before being shut down as a precautionary measure. Over four appearances, the 7-foot-1 center averaged 10.8 points, five rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 3.8 assists per game, showcasing a rare blend of size and playmaking ability that earned strong early reviews from teammates and media alike.</p><h2><b>Jrue Holiday praises Yang Hansen as Blazers blend veteran leadership with young talent</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Hansen.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Holiday, 35, joins Portland after winning his second NBA championship with the Boston Celtics during the 2023–24 season. In his 16th NBA campaign (2024–25), he averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals across 62 appearances, helping Boston maintain a top-tier regular season performance following their title run. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/jrue-holiday-trade-grades-for-celtics-blazers-after-stunning-deal">Trail Blazers acquired him earlier this offseason in a trade</a> that sent Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks to Boston.</p><p>With Holiday now anchoring the Trail Blazers’ backcourt and Hansen poised to contribute in the frontcourt, Portland continues to reshape its roster following a transitional 2024–25 campaign. The team missed the playoffs but has since <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-admits-mistake-after-portland-departure">reunited with All-Star Damian Lillard</a>, who rejoined the franchise on a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-returning-portland-on-42-million-contract">three-year, $42 million deal after being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks</a>.</p><p>Holiday’s endorsement of Hansen serves as a notable early milestone in the rookie’s development, as the franchise looks to strike a balance between rebuilding and staying competitive. The former Celtic is expected to provide leadership and veteran stability, while Hansen represents a key piece of the team’s long-term outlook.</p><p>As the Blazers head into training camp, Hansen’s trajectory remains a major storyline — and Holiday’s comments only strengthen the view that Portland may have landed a valuable building block with their mid-first-round selection.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Jrue Holiday shouts out ‘superstar’ Yang Hansen

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-biggest-yang-hansen-concern');   ga('set', 'title', 'Portland Trail Blazers’ biggest Yang Hansen concern despite 2025 NBA Summer League hoopla');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Portland-Trail-Blazers-biggest-Yang-Hansen-concern-despite-2025-NBA-Summer-League-hoopla-.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Portland Trail Blazers’ biggest Yang Hansen concern despite 2025 NBA Summer League hoopla</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-29T09:13:26-07:00">July 29th, 9:13am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-29T14:16:07-07:00">July 29th, 2:16pm</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers may have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-rookie-yang-hansen-drops-quote-life-away-basketball">uncovered a gem in Yang Hansen</a>. The 7-foot-1 Chinese center has turned heads at the 2025 NBA Summer League.</p><p>But Yang Hansen’s early flashes of brilliance have already <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-yang-hansen-reveals-yao-mings-heartfelt-advice-before-nba-arrival">drawn comparisons to a familiar figure, Yao Ming</a>. The former Rockets star dazzled with skill and size, yet saw his career derailed by lower-body injuries that serve as a lasting warning.</p><p>Fans have marveled at Yang’s passing vision, soft touch, and perimeter shooting, rare tools for a player his size. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/denver-nuggets/nuggets-news-nikola-jokic-reacts-yang-hansen-hype-viral-comparison">The hype machine has even dubbed him the “Chinese Jokic,</a>” a label that hints at his impressive offensive upside.</p><p>Still, despite the justified buzz, Portland’s front office and coaching staff must face a more pressing concern. Yang’s lack of lower-body strength and physicality stands out as a major red flag.</p><h2><b>Yang Hansen’s glaring weakness: lower-body physicality</b></h2><p>That concern isn’t just theoretical. It’s been on full display in the Summer League. Yang showcases impressive moments, draining threes off the pick-and-pop and throwing slick interior passes, but smaller players often out-rebound him, push him off the block, and expose his discomfort with contact near the rim.</p><p>Opponents quickly learned that fronting him or delivering a shoulder to the chest was often enough to disrupt his rhythm. For a center expected to play heavy minutes in the NBA, that’s a troubling sign.</p><p>What makes this issue more alarming is the cautionary tale that looms large over Chinese basketball: Yao Ming. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-10-greatest-players-franchise-history-ranked">The former No. 1 overall pick and eight-time NBA All-Star</a> brought global attention to the Houston Rockets and lifted China’s profile on the basketball world stage.</p><p>At his peak, Yao was nearly unstoppable, blending finesse with towering dominance. Yet despite his generational talent, a string of devastating lower-body injuries, primarily to his feet and ankles, cut Yao’s career short. He <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mingya01.html" rel="noopener">played just 486 NBA games</a> before those injuries forced him to retire at age 30.</p><h2><b>The Yao Ming warning for Yang Hansen</b></h2><p>The parallels between Yao Ming and Yang Hansen are impossible to ignore. Both are skilled 7-footers who shoulder immense pressure on their frames. They must score and anchor the paint against the world’s most physical athletes.</p><p>And just like Yao, Yang is expected to represent both his team and his country on a global stage. If he joins national competitions, he may carry a year-round playing burden. That additional wear and tear compounds the risk.</p><p>Yao’s downfall was due in large part to the immense strain placed on his lower extremities. Despite his incredible skill, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/biggest-what-if-players-in-nba-history">his feet and legs couldn’t withstand the rigors of the NBA schedule</a> combined with international commitments.</p><p>Portland must learn from that and do everything possible to build Yang’s base before asking him to carry any heavy minutes. Without a strong core and lower-body stability, Yang is at risk of following a similar trajectory.</p><h2><b>What are the Trail Blazers doing with Yang Hansen?</b></h2><p>To their credit, the Blazers appear to be taking a cautious approach. After four strong but physically demanding Summer League performances, the Trail Blazers opted to shut Yang Hansen down early. While they haven’t stated this publicly, it’s likely they want him to begin focusing on conditioning, strength development, and injury prevention.</p><p>This isn’t just smart; it’s essential because while the highlights are fun, getting repeatedly outmuscled under the basket cancels out any amount of offensive flair.</p><p>Moving forward, Portland’s sports science team must design a comprehensive plan tailored to Yang’s unique frame. This includes building lean muscle mass, improving joint stability, and increasing bone density, especially in the feet, knees, and hips.</p><p>Resistance training, core work, and plyometric drills must become a daily routine. Nutrition and recovery protocols should be top-tier, ensuring he maintains mobility while bulking up safely.</p><p>If Yang can develop the strength to complement his skills, the Trail Blazers may have landed a franchise-altering center. His basketball IQ and offensive feel are ahead of the curve, and he already plays with poise that belies his age. But without physical reinforcement, those tools may go underused or, worse, become irrelevant in the grind of an 82-game season.</p><h2><b>The road ahead for Yang Hansen</b></h2><p>Ultimately, Yang Hansen’s NBA journey is just beginning. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-yang-hansen-shine-summer-league-slam">He’s shown that the tools are real, the vision excites</a>, and the potential looms large. But he must now do the most important work away from the cameras, grinding in the weight room, training at the facility, and embracing the quiet discipline needed to fortify a 7-foot body for the NBA’s punishing demands.</p><p>And if the Trail Blazers gets it right, Yang Hansen could rewrite the narrative left behind by Yao, not just as a star from China but as a durable cornerstone built to last.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Portland Trail Blazers’ biggest Yang Hansen concern despite 2025 NBA Summer League hoopla

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/clippers-news-kawhi-leonard-advice-blazers-yang-hansen-nba-speed');   ga('set', 'title', 'Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard gives golden advice to Blazers’ Yang Hansen about NBA speed');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kawhi-Leonard-2-moves-the-ball-against-Denver-Nuggets-guard-Christian-Braun-0.jpg"><figcaption>© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard gives golden advice to Blazers’ Yang Hansen about NBA speed</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-27T18:54:28-07:00">July 27th, 6:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-27T18:54:28-07:00">July 27th, 6:54pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Clippers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>They’re the duo we thought we didn’t need. Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen recently hit each other up via video call to talk about the NBA. Leonard will visit China this offseason, and it’s only apt that he gets to chat with the Shandong-born Yang prior to the trip.</p><p>Yang was surprisingly drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies as the 16th overall pick and was swiftly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-love-yang-hansen-memory">traded to the Trail Blazers</a>. He turned heads in the NBA Summer League, showing off his all-around game that has earned him the nickname “Chinese Jokic,” a nod to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.</p><p>The 20-year-old newcomer, however, admitted to Leonard that he is still trying to adjust to the NBA’s speed.</p><p>“The pace is kind of fast. They (players) are really fast like rabbits. Extremely fast,” said Yang via a translator.</p><p>The comments made the Clippers forward laugh before giving Yang <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1949586015712346378" rel="noopener">words of encouragement</a>.</p><p>“Once you get a few more games under your belt, it will slow down,” said the 34-year-old Leonard, who has mastered playing at his own pace.</p><p>Yang should be named Rookie of the Year just for making Leonard laugh.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kawhi Leonard and Yang Hansen is the duo we never knew we needed 🤩</p><p>Kawhi says he wants to link up and get in the gym with the Blazers rookie when he comes to China this offseason 🇨🇳</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/swishcultures_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@swishcultures_</a>)<a href="https://t.co/v6hd9d3SZ7">pic.twitter.com/v6hd9d3SZ7</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1949586015712346378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p> </p><p>The Clippers veteran also sought advice from the fast-rising big man for his upcoming visit to China, including how to talk trash in Mandarin.</p><p>“I need some in-person coaching for that,” said Leonard, again laughing.</p><p>The two-time champion also said he wants to play ball with Yang, who <a href="https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-07-25/Yang-Hansen-to-skip-FIBA-Asia-Cup-focus-on-development-in-Portland-1FhY2rlr1DO/p.html" rel="noopener">recently begged off</a> from suiting up for China in next month’s FIBA Asia Cup to focus on his rookie stint with the Trail Blazers.</p><p>“Man, if you got some free time, let’s get in the gym and have some shooting contest. When I head out there, I will hit you up,” said Leonard.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-clippers/10-most-interesting-facts-about-kawhi-leonards-nba-career">Leonard was once again hobbled by injuries</a> last season, limiting him to just 37 games with the Clippers. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard gives golden advice to Blazers’ Yang Hansen about NBA speed

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-love-yang-hansen-memory');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Damian Lillard will absolutely love Yang Hansen’s memory of him');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Damian-Lillard-warming-up.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Damian Lillard will absolutely love Yang Hansen’s memory of him</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-24T19:42:03-07:00">July 24th, 7:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-24T19:42:17-07:00">July 24th, 7:42pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is expected to sit out the entire 2025-26 season due to his Achilles injury. While he is out of commission, his primary role will be to mentor his younger teammates, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-yang-hansen-reveals-yao-mings-heartfelt-advice-before-nba-arrival">including rookie Yang Hansen</a>.</p><p>The 20-year-old center from China <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/yang-hansen-haters-pelicans-2025-nba-summer-league-biggest-losers">impressed in the NBA Summer League</a>, showing off his versatility, vision, and overall skill level. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies as the 16th overall pick but was quickly traded to the Trail Blazers.</p><p>While he is miles away from home, he has become more comfortable in Rip City. Knowing his teammates well is a plus. When asked by ClutchPoints’ Ben Golliver about his <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1948503579565982070">favorite memory of watching Lillard</a> play with the Trail Blazers, Yang had the perfect response: He tapped his wrist.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reporter: “Do you have any memories of watching Damian Lillard play in Portland with the Trail Blazers?”</p><p>Yang Hansen: *Taps wrist for Dame Time.*</p><p>(Question: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenGolliver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BenGolliver</a>, 🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomerAzarly</a>) <a href="https://t.co/7D3LovayJo">pic.twitter.com/7D3LovayJo</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1948503579565982070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>As they say in China: If you know, you know.</p><p>Yang is the ninth player from China to get drafted in the NBA and the third-highest selection behind Yao Ming, who was the top overall pick in 2002, and Yi Jianlian, who was drafted seventh overall in 2007.</p><p>It was recently announced that he <a href="https://english.news.cn/20250724/a2265fb7ca1242d69a8ceb2196d02f76/c.html" rel="noopener">will not suit up for China</a> in next month’s FIBA Asia Cup to fully focus on his time with the Trail Blazers. He expressed his gratitude to the national team for allowing him to nurture his ambition.</p><p>“From the moment I decided to chase my dream in the United States, I have always felt the strength of the entire Chinese basketball community behind me,” said Yang in a statement, as quoted by state media Xinhua.</p><p>“The opportunity to focus on adapting to the NBA’s rhythm and improving my personal abilities is inseparable from the open-minded attitude everyone has shown. This kind of tolerance for the growth of a young player has truly touched me.”</p><p>With Lillard guiding him, Yang’s comfort level with the Trail Blazers will improve sooner rather than later. Next thing they know, it is Yang Time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Damian Lillard will absolutely love Yang Hansen’s memory of him

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-yang-hansen-message-to-damian-lillard-amid-portland-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Yang Hansen’s message to Damian Lillard amid Trail Blazers return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Yang-Hansen-Damian-Lillard-Portland-Trail-Blazers.jpg"><figcaption>CP</figcaption></figure><h1>Yang Hansen’s message to Damian Lillard amid Trail Blazers return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-24T15:09:19-07:00">July 24th, 3:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-24T15:38:42-07:00">July 24th, 3:38pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers have had an eventful month, from the drafting of Yang Hansen to the return of Damian Lillard in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-embraces-unique-role-in-emotional-return">free agency</a> at the end of Summer League.</p><p>Portland appears to be a team on the rise, especially as their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/yang-hansen-haters-pelicans-2025-nba-summer-league-biggest-losers">young talent continues to develop</a> and Lillard rehabs his torn Achilles injury.</p><h2><b>Yang Hansen’s message to Damian Lillard amid Trail Blazers return</b></h2><p>Yang Hansen, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, took Summer League by storm with his strong play and hilarious personality. Interpreter Chris Liu has helped Yang transition to the United States and deal with the immense media responsibilities with both Chinese and American media members.</p><p>Yang made four appearances in NBA Summer League, averaging 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the field.</p><p>His best game came against Derick Queen and the New Orleans Pelicans, where he put up 15 points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocked shots, and three 3-pointers in a Blazers win.</p><p>After Lillard agreed to a deal with the Trail Blazers, Yang was asked about the former Portland superstar guard returning to the team he played his first 11 seasons with.</p><p>“Damian, I mean, he’s a really good player,” Yang said, with interpreter Chris Liu by his side. “I always use them in the 2K game, and I just wish that Damian will rehabilitate himself soon. I feel for Damian; I wish I can see him on the court soon.”</p><p>When asked if he had any <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1948503579565982070" rel="noopener">memories of Lillard with the Blazers</a>, Yang simply smiled and tapped his wrist.</p><p>“Time to check the watch,” Yang said via Liu. “Dame Time.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reporter: “Do you have any memories of watching Damian Lillard play in Portland with the Trail Blazers?”</p><p>Yang Hansen: *Taps wrist for Dame Time.*</p><p>(Question: <a href="https://twitter.com/BenGolliver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BenGolliver</a>, 🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomerAzarly</a>) <a href="https://t.co/7D3LovayJo">pic.twitter.com/7D3LovayJo</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1948503579565982070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Lillard and the Blazers quickly agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal that comes with a no-trade clause after the nine-time NBA All-Star reached a buyout agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks. In his introductory press conference, Lillard explained his new role with the franchise as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon.</p><p>“I told him that this year, he’s going to be the highest paid assistant coach in league history because I’m going to be putting him to work every day,” Chauncey Billups said of Lillard’s new role. “We’re really excited. We’re really happy to have our guy back.”</p><p>“Like Chauncey said, I’m going to be an assistant coach, but my investment in the team will be the same,” Lillard explained.</p><p>After making big strides in the back half of the 2024-25 season, the Blazers are entering a big season. They drafted Yang Hansen while building around Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson following the moves to send out Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Yang Hansen

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Yang Hansen’s message to Damian Lillard amid Trail Blazers return

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