'The next Jokic', Portland Trail Blazers fans go crazy over Yang Hansen’s Summer League performance

Portland Trail Blazers fans witnessed the debut of their first-round draft pick, Yang Hansen, at the NBA Summer League and immediately drew comparisons to Nikola Jokic due to his playmaking skills as a 7'1" center. Selected 16th overall in the draft—a surprise as he was considered a reach at that position—Hansen impressed with 10 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks in his opening game, sparking excitement among supporters who are already calling him the future face of the franchise.

The Chinese center entered the draft with significant hype from his home country, and his performance amplified comparisons to Jokic, fueled by his work ethic and court vision as a big man. Fans took to social media to question if he should have been the top pick over Cooper Flagg, with one stating that watching Hansen play made them doubt Flagg's selection, while another argued Hansen might have the highest upside in his draft class.

After just one Summer League appearance, Blazers fans escalated their enthusiasm, declaring Hansen the cornerstone of the team and ranking him among franchise legends like Damian Lillard and Clyde Drexler. The Jokic parallels intensified, with one fan noting Hansen's physicality as a sign of potential stardom and another labeling him the "next Jokic" after a single assist, reinforced by a Nuggets source referring to him as the "Chinese Jokic."