It’s pretty uncommon to see an NBA Draft moment go viral, but in Yang Hansen’s case, the hype has been unreal. During the 2025 NBA Draft, this 20-year-old Chinese Basketball player wasn’t inside the green room with other potential nominees. He was there as a fan, seated with the rest of the audience, until he got his name called out at pick No.16. Since this is the first time something like this has happened, the young Chinese player stole all the spotlight.
From the Seats to Becoming the Show’s Highlight
After the initial shock, Hansen stood up and made his way towards the stage when Adam Silver called him out. His clean white suit automatically made him a highlight, like he knew this was bound to happen. Since he was already around fans, hundreds of phones were taken out to record this unicorn moment. “Bro was there as a fan!” Fans on Twitter and Reddit couldn’t believe it.
Can’t blame them, though. Even the experts predicted Yang might not make it this early. The noise around him was that he would either go late in the second round or not get drafted at all. That’s what made this announcement even crazier. Portland traded away their 14th pick to the Grizzlies, and after keeping the 16th, they drafted Hansen. No one was ready for this, not even the player himself.
This move was questioned by many, but the Trail Blazers didn’t hesitate a bit. According to their GM, Joe Cornin, Yang Hansen was on their radar since they spotted his talent in China in the fall of 2023.
I think the Trail Blazers’ choice was understandable. Despite being so young, Hansen has been constantly compared with the two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, so much so that he got the nickname ‘Chinese Jokic’. Not only are his numbers solid, but his vision on the court, impressive passing skills, and the overall passion he has for the sport make him a wise pick.
What’s Next For Yang?
While the drafting is done, Hansen still has to prove himself as a worthy choice. He’ll be joining soon and starting his NBA development. In the meantime, let’s wish him luck.
That said, in the history of the NBA, this draft will indeed be remembered, not because of this surprise pick, but where Hansen sat while it happened. From being seated with the simpletons to shaking hands in the spotlight, this is definitely hard to forget.
