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.

The 20-year-old has already built an impressive resume during his time with the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association. In just two seasons, he’s earned two CBA All-Star selections. He made the All-CBA Domestic First Team and claimed both Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. It wasn’t a surprise to see him make the next step to the NBA.

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.

In his two seasons with the Qingdao Eagles, Yang averaged an impressive 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. His abilities as a rim protector can never be questioned, as he averaged 2.7 blocks per game. He had the chance to enter the 2024 NBA Draft but chose instead to stay back, develop his game. And quite clearly, the decision has paid off!

Once projected as a late second-round pick, Yang became the surprise of the draft so far, as he was taken more than 30 spots higher than expected. For context, the Athletic had him going 48. A masterclass from his agent, Rich Paul. Is Paul the greatest to ever do it? That’s a conversation for another day!

And just like that, Chinese basketball fans have a new name to believe in. Could Hansen Yang be the one to lead China back into the NBA spotlight?

Can Hansen Yang bring back the lost glory?

Today, there is no shortage of basketball courts and people rocking NBA jerseys in the country. NBA games are also televised on a daily basis. Yet despite its popularity, China hasn’t produced a consistent NBA rotation player since Yao Ming retired in 2011.

When Yao Ming took over the job of CBA president in 2017, he made a promise. “If 10 years from now we still use Yao Ming to represent China, it’s a failure on my job,” But by 2024, Yao stepped down, unable to deliver on that promise. Since 2002, several Chinese players have been drafted, but none have carved out a long-term NBA career. Last season, Jacky Qui managed just 10 minutes for the Nets, the only Chinese-born player to appear in a game last season. Lin Wei is another name to watch out for during the draft as he is projected to be a late second-round pick as well.

This does give Yang a chance to carve out his legacy. He now stands alongside Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian as one of the highest-drafted Chinese-born players in NBA history. Can he live up to the hype and become the new torchbearer of Chinese basketball? Guess we will find out soon enough! What’s your take on this historic pick? Let us know in the comments!