Rising stars look up to superstars: Yang Hansen’s first experience in the NBA

For the 20-year-old Yang Hansen, the beginning of his NBA career was full of challenges. So far this season, in the 5 games he has played for the Trail Blazers, he has averaged only 5.8 minutes of playing time, 1.8 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game. Such data truly reflects the pain an international rookie goes through when adapting to the world's highest level basketball league.

Core dilemma: The main problem Yang Hansen currently faces is that physical confrontation and movement speed have not yet reached NBA level requirements. Trail Blazers coach Splitter also admitted that the coaching staff will not consider increasing his playing time for the time being to prevent injury, and pointed out that he "needs to improve his speed and confrontation."

Competitive environment: The Trail Blazers have Klingen, Dupu Reese and others inside. With Robert Williams returning from injury, Yang Hansen's playing time may be further compressed. Especially Dupu Reese, he has an advantage in the rotation competition with his stronger physical confrontation and diverse offensive methods (for example, he scored 9 points in only 12 minutes against the Jazz).

Positive Signs: Looking back at the preseason, Yang Hansen also had a highlight performance of 14 points in a single quarter, which proves that he has good scoring potential. Teammate Caleb Love also praised him: "He is 7 feet tall, can dribble behind his back, dribble past people, and shoot three-pointers... He also has many skill packages." How to transform these potentials into stable immediate combat power is a problem he needs to overcome.

👑 The King's Stance: Jokic's epoch-making dominance

While Yang Hansen is still working hard for sporadic playing time, Nikola Jokic on the other end of the court has already established himself as the strongest active center in the league.

Data monster: Since the start of this season, Jokic has averaged nearly a triple-double per game: 20.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 2.0 steals. What's even more amazing is that he has easily scored a triple-double within three quarters many times, which shows his dominance.

Historical achievement: Jokic’s greatness has long transcended the present. He holds 3 regular season MVP trophies, 1 NBA championship and 1 Finals MVP. According to US media data, in the past five seasons (including playoffs), Jokic's four core statistics of total points, rebounds, assists, and steals have all ranked among the top two in the league. He is the first player in NBA history to achieve this achievement, which vividly demonstrates his all-round dominance.

🔍 Connections across time and space: inheritance and inspiration

Despite the disparity in strength, people are always used to link Yang Hansen and Jokic together. Behind this may be the recognition and expectation of a basketball style.

Glimpses in style: Trail Blazers reporter Casey Holdahl once commented that Yang Hansen's "movements when complaining to the referee", "game style or certain manners", and even "in terms of using his body" reminded him of Jokic. US media also pointed out that Yang Hansen, like Jokic who first entered the league, is not keen on flashy performances, but "plays the game the right way", showing a "calm, selfless style of play" and the ability to interpret the game situation.

Essential gap: However, slight similarities in style cannot make up for the gap in strength. Commentators hit the nail on the head with the key difference: offensive threat. Jokic relies on his strong inside scoring ability to force opponents to double-team, thereby creating opportunities for his teammates; while Yang Hansen currently lacks stable offensive finishing methods. In addition, there is a huge difference in rebounding ability and control of the rhythm of the game.

The best classroom: For Yang Hansen, even if he can only compete with his idol for a few minutes in a limited playing time, it is an extremely precious learning opportunity. Observing up close how Jokic chooses offensive positions, how he sees defenses, and how he directs decisions can help him understand better than any training what it takes to become a great NBA center.

💎 Opportunities and challenges coexist with China’s power

Yang Hansen’s road to the NBA is destined to not be smooth. From being a first-round pick with high expectations to struggling to survive in limited playing time, he is experiencing the severe test that most international players must face.

For him, the symbolic significance of the matchup with Jokic is far greater than the result of the game. This is both a great opportunity to learn from top players and a yardstick to measure how far you are from world-class players. In the fierce competition within the team, he needs to seize every opportunity that may be fleeting, starting with defense and rebounding, and gradually win the trust of the coach.

We hope that Yang Hansen can withstand the pressure and gain a firm foothold in the NBA, making this encounter with Jokic a new starting point for Chinese basketball to integrate with world basketball.

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