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SCMP Sport

Chinese basketball prospect Yang Hansen was selected as one of the 28 players for next month’s Rising Stars Challenge on Monday.
Featuring some of the best first- and second-year NBA talent, along with players from the NBA G League, the challenge is set to take place on February 13 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Top draft pick in 2025 Cooper Flagg was also selected, along with Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel.
A No 16 draft pick by the Portland Trail Blazers last summer, Yang played in only 26 regular season games out of 46, averaging 2.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists while shooting 28.6 per cent per game.
The 2.16-metre (7-foot-1) Chinese international was also assigned to the Rip City Remix, Portland’s affiliate team in the NBA G League, which serves as the developmental league of the NBA.
Yang featured in eight matches for Rip City Remix, averaging 16.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and two assists per game.

He also averaged just over 30 minutes per outing and was shooting almost 52 per cent.
Chinese social media users said there was “no shame” and that it was “reasonable and normal” for Yang to play in the All-Star Weekend as a G League representative, given his solid performances in the lower-tier league.
There were, however, also some comments suggesting Yang’s inclusion was “the power of capital”, and that “[NBA commissioner] Adam Silver knows how [to get the best for the league]”.
In total, 21 NBA players – 10 rookies and 11 second years – will be drafted onto and divided among three seven-a-side teams, with the seven G League players making up the fourth team.
NBA legends Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady will serve as the honorary coaches for the three teams composed of NBA players.
Austin Rivers will be the head coach for Yang and his teammates at the three-game mini-tournament.
Yi Jianlian was the last Chinese player to play at the challenge when he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008.
Legendary Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming also played in the 2004 edition as a second year, a year after being voted to the Western Conference All-Stars in Atlanta.


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NBA (National Basketball Association)

Chinese basketball prospect Yang Hansen makes NBA Rising Stars team at All-Star Weekend

Yang Hansen (left) was a No 16 pick by the Portland Trail Blazers last summer. Photo: Xinhua

Cooper Flagg (right), who was the top draft pick in 2025, will also play at the event. Photo: AFP

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Sport

China

Basketball

The Portland Trail Blazers player joins Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel at the three-game mini-tournament


The Portland Trail Blazers player joins Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel at the three-game mini-tournament.


Yi Jianlian

Yang Hansen

Chinese basketball prospect Yang Hansen makes NBA Rising Stars team at All-Star Weekend

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Portland Trail Blazers player joins Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel at the three-game mini-tournament

The Portland Trail Blazers player joins Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel at the three-game mini-tournament