The Portland Path Blazers shocked the NBA world by buying and selling down with the Memphis Grizzlies after which choosing Chinese language heart Hansen Yang with the No. 16 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft.
As our pals at Blazer’s Edge famous, proof this was a decide that was a bit off the board was The Ringer having Yang mocked at decide No. 40, whereas ESPN had him projected because the thirty sixth decide, so his being chosen within the high 20 was positively a shock.
However there was as soon as one other seven-footer from abroad who was projected (and finally went) within the second spherical earlier than changing into top-of-the-line gamers in NBA historical past, and none apart from the entrance workplace that chosen stated three-time MVP advised NBA insider Jake Fischer that they see some Nikola Jokic in Yang:
That’s an unbelievable draft evening comp in that it’s fully unhinged, wildly unrealistic, and follows the rule that each prospect should be in comparison with a star in order that followers can perceive their recreation.
And look, I gained’t declare to have watched a lot Qingdao Double Star Eagles basketball within the CBA final season, however should you take a look at Yang’s highlights… properly, the comp continues to be loopy, however principally as a result of Jokic is a wild comp for anybody!
However nonetheless, you’ll be able to a minimum of see the talent that may lead somebody excessive on Yang’s recreation to make the comparability when watching his finest performs:
And even Jokic by no means gained Rookie of the Yr twice:
Can Yang make it a threepeat within the NBA? Our personal NBA Draft knowledgeable, Ricky O’Donnell — who has been projecting the NBA draft for over a decade — is much less positive. He appreciated the decide lots lower than stated nameless Nuggets worker, giving the choice a D in his stay draft grades:
I appreciated Hansen as a possible second rounder for his dimension and passing, however it is a surprising choice. The Blazers have already got one other big heart in Donovan Clingan who they took within the top-10 final 12 months, and I don’t assume they will play collectively. That is simply complicated to me, however a minimum of Portland did properly to commerce down and decide up further belongings.
We’ll see if Ricky or this unnamed Nuggets staffer is extra proper in the long run, however all I do know is that this: Fischer’s tweet has an opportunity to be iconic both means, and if Yang pans out, I’m placing leaking that to him on my resume if I’m that Nuggets particular person.
Joe Cronin, Mike Schmitz and the Blazers had been courageous to take Yang so excessive, however what’s braver? Evaluating him to Nikola Jokic earlier than he performs a single NBA recreation while you work for the group that Jokic performs for. That’s the stuff true takesmen are made from.
