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The 2025 NBA Draft had its first real stunner just past the midway point of Wednesday’s proceedings.
As part of a trade with the Grizzlies, the Trail Blazers landed Yang Hansen from China with the No. 16 pick, completely shocking most of the basketball world.
Hansen was not seen by most draft experts as a first-round pick, so Portland using its spot to take the 7-foot-1 center surprised many.
CBS analyst Matt Norlander said he was stunned by the 19-year-old getting picked so high.
“If Egor Demin going to Brooklyn was 6.8 on the shocking scale out of 10, this registers around a 9.5 overall,” Norlander said. “I can guarantee you people around the league are shaking their heads and texting each other right now going: ‘What on earth is Portland doing?'”
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One NBA exec told ClutchPoints succinctly: “That is the wildest pick I’ve ever seen. Those jobs up there are on the line.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania called the pick a “surprise.”
Hansen was not listed in The Post’s final first-round mock draft.
He’s the first player from China to be taken in the NBA draft since Zhou Qi (Rockets) and Wang Zhelin (Grizzlies) were picked in 2016.
The 19-year-old has spent the last two seasons in the CBA, averaging 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 blocks per game over 96 contests.
NBA.com’s draft profile says Hansen does have star potential at center, but that he’ll need to add muscle to make good on reaching those lofty heights.
While it remains to be seen how Hansen acclimates to the NBA, the Trail Blazers, at least for one night, left people scratching their heads.
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