Yang Hansen’s NBA preseason debut with the Portland Trail Blazers was a whirlwind of highlights, growing pains, and a pinch of video-game-level surrealism. The 20-year-old rookie logged 21 minutes in the Blazers’ 129-123 loss to the Golden State Warriors, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 turnovers—a stat line that screamed “rookie jitters.” But between the fouls and fumbles, flashes of his potential shone through. 🌟
First-Game Jitters & Second-Half Glimmers
Yang started slow, looking every bit the newcomer facing NBA giants. But by the second half, his athleticism and rim presence—traits that made Portland draft him—began to surface. Still, the Warriors exploited his slower lateral movement, a reminder that adapting to NBA speed is a marathon, not a sprint.
“Steph Curry Felt Like a 2K Character!” 🎮
Postgame, Yang kept it real: “Facing Steph Curry was unreal—like playing against my 2K video game avatar!” He admitted the physicality shocked him, vowing to improve: “I need to make amends in training.” His honesty? Refreshing. His self-awareness? A good sign for Blazers fans.
While his debut wasn’t flawless, it offered a tantalizing preview. Can he speed up his reads and own his role? Time—and a lot of gym hours—will tell. For now, Yang’s journey is one to watch. 🔍
