Yang Hansen Called 'Superstar' by Jrue Holiday Ahead of Rookie Season with Blazers
Jrue Holiday is confident in the Portland Trail Blazers rookie heading into his first season.
Holiday, who was traded to Portland from the Boston Celtics earlier this offseason, called No. 16 overall pick Yang Hansen "a superstar."
“He’s been a superstar. He’s been hooping," Holiday said, per The Rose Garden Report's Sean Highkin. "We were talking about it earlier, how much media he’s had in Vegas. He deserves it. He’s been doing his thing. I’m not sure anybody saw how well he would play, but he’s been playing well. I’m excited.”
Hansen, a 20-year-old who spent the last few years playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, didn't get a ton of hype coming into the draft, and some were surprised when he was selected in the first round.
He quickly put any doubts to rest during Summer League.
The 7'1" Hansen has all the makings of an NBA big man, but also displayed a passing ability found in a few centers outside of Nikola Jokić. He finished Summer League averaging 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Holiday and the Blazers clearly think highly of Yang, and he'll look to meet their expectations with a strong rookie year.
