Official Praise Pours In! Yang Hansen on His Rookie Game Interview: “That Three Was My Favorite” — Can’t Wait to Face Jokic

On February 14 (Beijing time), Yang Hansen made his debut at NBA All-Star Weekend and left a strong first impression. In just eight minutes off the bench, he went an efficient 4-for-5 from the field to score 10 points, adding 2 rebounds. Although he didn’t advance to the Rising Stars final, his performance was more than convincing—so much so that the Portland Trail Blazers officially praised him for “playing with style” and showcasing his game.

Yang earned his spot in the Rising Stars Challenge as a G League/Development League elite player. While he wasn’t selected as a traditional NBA rookie representative, being part of All-Star Weekend in his first season is still a major endorsement of his progress and potential.

In the semifinal, Yang provided instant impact. His 10 points were the second-highest total in the game, just one point shy of the top scorer. However, his team—Team Rivers—fell short, losing 34–40 to Team Anthony, ending their run before the championship matchup.

After the game, Yang was clearly enjoying the moment. He said his favorite part of All-Star Weekend was getting to chat with his idol, Nikola Jokic, joking with a big smile: “I can’t wait to kiss him.” He also laughed at himself for his “Chinglish,” saying he tried to share his Chinese-style English with everyone—and that it made people happy.

When asked about his favorite play from the night, Yang didn’t hesitate. He pointed to his rare outside three-pointer, explaining with a playful twist: “Rare is valuable—so of course it’s that three.”