China’s Yang Hansen makes first NBA start for Portland Trail Blazers
‘His beginning wasn’t great, but he finished the game better,’ coach says
Yang Hansen, the 216cm (7ft 1in) rookie from China, made his first NBA start on Sunday for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Hansen, picked 16th overall in last summer’s draft, moved into the starting line-up to face the Memphis Grizzlies after the Trail Blazers’ primary centres, Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, missed the game.
Williams was a late drop-out because of illness and Clingan missed his second straight game with a left lower leg injury.
The Grizzlies built a big lead in the first half and defeated Portland 119-96.
Yang entered the game averaging 2.5 points a game and 1.5 rebounds. He had a season-high nine points in a 127-110 home loss to Phoenix on November 18.
He finished Sunday night’s game with four points on two-of-five shooting and five rebounds in slightly more than 19 minutes. His four points came in the third quarter, which included a spin move and a dunk over 7ft 3in Zach Edey.