Because his English is not yet fluent. In pre-draft interviews, Yang described himself as “optimistic” and “easy-going” to team executives, his demeanor overflowing with the joy of a lottery winner and the calm confidence of a livestreamer.
“I have a saying in my heart,” Yang explained. “Don’t worry about things beyond eight hours. Even things within eight hours, don’t worry too much. Be positive and optimistic wherever you go. Be happy, try to have fun with everyone.”
“Attention doesn’t bother me,” Yang said. “This is part of the job. This is a great opportunity to show my sense of humor. Sometimes you’ll see me with my head down. That doesn’t mean I’m depressed. That means I want to sleep. I sometimes save my words because I want to go to sleep.”
Praising sleep is one of Yang Hansen’s favorite memes. After the draft, when he first appeared in Portland media, he described his hobbies as “sleeping, playing PlayStation 5, and eating.”
“I didn’t do well in school and was a bit fat,” Yang said. “My father asked me to try some sports, find out what I wanted to do, and lose weight. My father told me: ‘Don’t be fat.’”
Yang said the first time he believed he had a chance to enter the NBA was at the 2023 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Hungary. There, he faced future Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr, who was the second pick in the 2024 draft, and impressed a Portland scout.
“Of course, there’s pressure,” Yang said. “I just want to show the Chinese people that I’m doing well. Before I came to America, Yao Ming called me and shared some of his experiences. He told me to enjoy your food, enjoy your drinks, enjoy your sleep, enjoy everything. Yao Ming is an idol in Chinese basketball. He’s special. I’m just a rookie. I can feel many people’s expectations and hopes for me. Yao Ming is number one in heaven. Compared to him, I’m just cold ashes in a pot.”
When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name on draft night, Yang walked from the audience to the Barclays Center court because he didn’t receive a green room invitation reserved for top prospects. Later, he told ESPN that just before this important moment in his life, he was busy eating fried chicken. Yang’s joyous journey continued, wearing a T-shirt in Portland that transformed “Hansen Yang” into “Handsome and Young.”
Soon after, his teammates and coaches made it their mission to instill American culture in him. Yang now understands the difference between eating beef for dinner and “rap beef,” he learned what it means to “diss” someone, and began claiming he “wants the smoke.” When he recites hip-hop lyrics, his Trail Blazers teammates laugh; they taught him to respond “All right, bet” whenever he doesn’t understand the coach’s instructions.
Yang’s comedic style quickly spread in Las Vegas. When asked how he would work alongside experienced guards Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, deadpan Yang stated he had extensive experience working with them in the “NBA 2K” video game. Yang then mimicked Lillard’s signature poker face expression and tapped his wrist, paying homage to the All-Star guard’s “Dame Time” celebration.
“The best combination in life is rain and sleep,” Yang said.
I absolutely love Little Yang, he’s basically a philosopher!!!
