The Portland Trail Blazers have quite a promising roster filled with young players like Scoot Henderson and Yang Hansen. They do have veterans to learn from, but the youngsters are the backbone of the team. The Blazers are an interesting bunch in Micah Nori’s system, including Yang Hansen’s progress.
How Yang Hansen’s Progress Is Great For The Trail Blazers
Yang was a surprising pick back in the 2025 NBA Draft, as most mock drafts had him going in the second round. Luckily for him, the Trail Blazers’ front office was already hard at work to get him before that. Since the Blazers knew their target, they made sure to get him while maximizing their assets, trading down from the 11th pick to the 16th.
Unfortunately for both the Blazers and Yang, he did not have the best rookie season. He barely featured for the Trail Blazers, as he was not part of Tiago Splitter’s regular rotation. Now, Yang’s progress is looking better with time, so his early reputation as a draft bust could be premature.
Hansen’s progress Could Make Him A High-Level Offensive Player
As a player hailing from China, Yang does not have the same foundation as most NBA players. He was developed in his country to be a skilled center, so he has a good touch around the rim and beyond the three-point arc.
He can block shots, but he is not as mobile as centers like Chet Holmgren. Yang does have a defensive pedigree, as he won the Defensive Player of the Year in the CBA. Another hurdle he has to overcome is the language barrier, but teammates like Damian Lillard are doing their best to adapt.
Yang Hansen says Damian Lillard has started to learn Chinese to make him feel welcomed and more comfortable in Portland:
"He's learning a lot of Chinese. Every day in the morning we shake hands and he tells me "Zao Shang Hao", which means 'Good morning'."
via @highkin pic.twitter.com/YpW7ZdZfqa
— NBARetweet (@RTNBA) July 21, 2026
The 2026 Summer League was a net positive for Hansen’s progress. He averaged 13 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. It was clear that he worked on his game over the past few months, which could make him a potential big man in Nori’s system filled with guards.
At 7’1″ and 270 pounds, Yang has good physical measurements that could make him last in the NBA. While he is not the quickest player, he does have some impressive moves in his offensive arsenal. When it comes to his defense, he is decently fast with his feet.
Offensively, he has showcased superb footwork with his post-up game. He can also attack closeouts decently well, which has helped him score points in the G-League with the Rip City Remix and at Summer League.
Nori’s System Can Maximize Most Of His Players
As head coach, Nori needs to take on a more authoritative role for this team. Of course, the Blazers have veterans like Lillard and Jrue Holiday, but they need a head coach who will know what to do in high-pressure situations.
While Nori is a first-time head coach, he has extensive experience over the past 28 years serving as an assistant coach around the league. That experience could make him the right man for the job, especially if he is ready for the challenge.
I think Micah Nori said more in this one answer about how he wants the Blazers to play than Tiago did over the entire course of last season
(from KGW8 YouTube: https://t.co/CVtvR6gtQO) pic.twitter.com/YykZCUh5XW
— Blazers Lead (@BlazersLead) June 25, 2026
Hansen is only one of the players he will look to maximize, as he has a tremendous amount of talent on the roster. He still has young players like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan all ready to become big names. In fact, Clingan is locked in as the franchise center, so that is a big responsibility that will need some support.
Thankfully, the Blazers’ center position is loaded, as Robert Williams III has returned while they also signed Branden Carlson. Since there are four centers on the roster, Hansen could be the odd man out, but he can prove himself in practice and with the Remix when he can.
The Blazers’ Centers Are Ready To Be Competitive
As long as Nori can figure out how to work the rotation, he won’t have much trouble finding success with this team. The Trail Blazers have the talent to compete in almost every position. Of course, they need to add depth at forward; they have reliable players like Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija leading the charge there.
Thankfully, the Trail Blazers do have immense talent across the roster, like Henderson serving as an x-factor. Yang Hansen’s progress might not be the biggest priority, but the Blazers are bought into his progress. They want him to succeed, especially after picking him 16th overall in 2025.
Yang could be the third or fourth option among the Blazers’ centers. However, he has the talent to become a long-term project alongside Clingan. It will be a tough challenge to beat, but it seems Yang is determined to prove himself after a rocky first season.
Photo Credit: Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
