China’s Yang Hansen makes first NBA start for Portland Trail Blazers

Yang Hansen, the 216cm (7ft 1in) rookie from China, made his first NBA start on Sunday for the Portland Trail Blazers.\nHansen, 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.\nWilliams was a late drop-out because of illness and Clingan missed his second straight game with a left lower leg injury.\nThe Grizzlies built a big lead in the first half and defeated Portland 119-96.\n\nYang 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.\nHe 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.\n“His beginning wasn’t great, but he finished the game better,” Tiago Splitter, the Trail Blazers’ interim coach, said. “It was a great lesson for him to have this experience, to go there and play against a big guy similar to his size and strength.\n“Great lesson for him to get better and work on his game.”\nYang also took a hard shot in the third quarter and was on the floor under the Portland basket as play continued, leading to a dunk on the other end by Edey. Splitter came off the bench, yelling at officials about his player being hurt.\n\n“That’s why I was furious,” Splitter said. “I don’t understand. Players on the floor, you always take time to check if he’s all right.”\nYang, originally selected by the Grizzlies before a draft night trade, played his two previous seasons with Qingdao Eagles of China’s professional league.\nDuring his final season with Qingdao before entering the NBA draft, Yang averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds.\n