CENTER OF ATTENTION

Chinese phenom Yang Hansen makes a big impression on Trail Blazers debut, but says there's still work to be done

Yang "Handsome" mania has taken over Las Vegas and will, quite possibly, soon sweep across the United States. Just 98 minutes across four games into his NBA adventure, China's rookie center Yang Hansen, being dubbed "Handsome" by his American fans, has more than proved he's worth the "wild gamble" — labeled by some draft analysts — that the Portland Trail Blazers made by selecting the virtually unknown 20-year-old prospect at a surprising 16th pick in the 2025 draft.

And he's turned many pre-draft sneers on his "Baby Jokic" moniker into cheers with his legit, all-around performance in Vegas, where fans, media and club staff alike made their own comparisons with the Denver Nuggets' three-time league MVP.

Over his four appearances in a Rip City jersey, Yang posted a well-rounded stats line of 10.8 points, five rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 blocks per game, helping the Blazers win three of its first four summer league games.