It’s just NBA Summer League, but three games in, rookie Yang Hansen is living up to the hype that has followed him since the Portland Trail Blazers took him No. 16 overall in June’s draft.
The 7-foot-1 big man played another superb game Tuesday night in Las Vegas, helping the Blazers discard the New Orleans Pelicans 93-87 down the stretch. Yang registered 15 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal while shooting 6-13 from the field. He also took the jump shot out of the garage
in the win, going 3-6 from long distance.
After the game, Yang once again met with a large scrum of reporters for media availability. These interviews have quickly become must-see content for Trail Blazers fans. That’s in part because of the novelty of seeing the interview process carried out with an interpreter, but also because of Yang’s entertaining personality. The 20-year-old works in a healthy mix of candid answers, the necessary sports PR talk and a few jokes. Here’s what he had to say Tuesday.
Yang on how he felt the team performed against New Orleans, particularly in the fourth quarter when Portland mounted a comeback:
“Firstly, we just played together and played as a team. We just hustled for that moment, and we caught them back and got the win in the end.”
On how he performed with conditioning after a few more days off before the game this time:
“For sure, the off-days helped me get more of my legs back, but I still need to improve my conditioning, and also, after some running I still can’t breathe sometimes.”
On how he felt his shot has come along, and how much practice he put into his 3-point celebration:
“Before the game, we played a joke with each other, and [Portland guard Sean Pedulla] told me, ‘Yo, Hansen, if you do that, you might make us crazy on the bench.’ And also [Portland forward Andrew Carr] made a bet with me. He said, ‘Hansen, you’re scared to do that. I’ll bet you $100.’ So I earned that, but I don’t take it, but I told A.C., ‘Dinner on you one time.”
On his biggest improvement from the start of Summer League to now:
“This was my career-high in 3-pointers made, my whole career.”
On what adjustments he and the team have made during Summer League:
“Just follow the team schedule, follow the trainer, follow the strength coach, and just do my job every day.”
On what he thinks about Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, who was sitting courtside, saying that he loves Yang’s game (Yang gave this answer in English):
“Man, I love you, too.”
On which one player he wants to play against in the regular season:
“I’ve got no rights to pick. Everyone will maybe bully me.”
On how he felt about playing against Pelicans rookie Derik Queen:
“He’s a great player. He’s strong, and he’s a good rebounder offensively and defensively. So I think I can learn from him and what he’s doing good.”
On if his 3-pointers were a special strategy the coach laid out for him in this game:
“To be honest, I did exactly the opposite side of what Coach said to me. He said they wanted me to roll more, but today, maybe I was a little bit tired, so I just stayed on the 3-point line at the top of the key. And when the ball went to me, I took the shot.”
On how he stopped saying “my bad” on the court after Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told him to stop, but against New Orleans he said “my fault” after some mistakes:
“I will follow his execution. Coach told me don’t say ‘my bad’ so I don’t say it. But when I make a mistake, I have to take some responsibility on my shoulder, so I have to say something to my teammate to show him my apology.”
On some of the English phrases his teammates have been teaching him:
“If I say something illegal, just cut it out, please. [Now Yang switches to English]: ‘Good sh—.’ ‘What the helly?’ [Yang switches back to Chinese]: Some illegal words. I can’t say that now.”
On how “bet” is one of the phrases they have been teaching him:
“When I say that to them, it looks like they feel really happy when I say that. I work on my English.”
On what his plans are when Summer League finishes:
“I got two more games — one with the Rockets, one is to be decided. So I just try to focus on those two games first, and then when Summer League finishes, I will see.”
Along with Yang, Blazers Summer League head coach Ronnie Burrell spoke with reporters after Tuesday’s win. He discussed how the team, Yang, and other individuals players performed against New Orleans, among other topics.
The Blazers’ next Summer League game is against the Houston Rockets Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific on NBATV.
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