Chinese hoops fans finally have one of their own on the NBA stage, 23 years after Yao Ming was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2002 draft. Yao proved that a player from China could not only compete but thrive among the NBA’s elite. But since Yao, no player from China has come close to reaching those heights, not even as a consistent role player. That could finally change now. With the 16th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies have selected Hansen Yang, marking the beginning of a new dawn for Chinese Basketball.
Yang is set to join the Portland Trail Blazers, who acquired the 16th overall pick from the Memphis Grizzlies. The moment his name was announced, the crowd erupted with excitement. It was a historic moment for Chinese basketball fans around the world. You can catch the reaction of the crowd and of Yang’s yourself. Nick Angstadt shared the clip on X.
The scene when Hansen Yang got drafted.
Man shoutout to @Barlowe500 @DraftJunkyJames. The only guys I saw talking about him forever ago. pic.twitter.com/4cdHJXyEPN
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) June 26, 2025
(This is developing news…)
The post Eyewitness Records Yang Hansen’s Instant Reaction to Memphis Grizzlies Picking Him 16th at NBA Draft appeared first on EssentiallySports.