The Moment Of NBA Draft Night Belonged To 7'2" Yang Hansen Who Was Taken 16th Overall While Sitting In The Stands After Being Projected To Go In The Middle Of The 2nd Round

Sarah Stier. Getty Images.

A few hours before the draft I got a text in my group chat from a friend who said he tossed some money on Yang Hansen to go in the first round of the NBA draft at +115. I was certain that was a fake person. Who on Earth was Yang Hansen? Turns out he's a 7'2" center from China who was projected to go in the middle of the 2nd round. How were his odds only +115 to be a first rounder? My buddy had for sure lit his money on fire. 

Well there I was watching the draft on Wednesday night as some guy from the fucking stands was taken. A real life version of the Lil Sas meme. 

My god in heaven it was Yang Hansen! I spit out my drink everywhere. Did they make this dude buy a ticket to attend the draft? I've never laughed harder. It's not like he went in the late 20s. This dude went 16th! Certainly my friend is going to jail, right? 

What if I told you someone described Yang as Chinese Jokic. I'm obsessed with this man. 

Need more? He apparently has his own merch line and it's fire. 

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Want an idea of how this happened? Peep our guy Yang thanking Rich Paul as he made his way out of the stands and onto the stage to greet Adam Silver. Rich Paul runs the whole league and if he wants his guy drafted he gets drafted. 

Yang's Wikipedia says he was a back to back rookie of the year award winner. Special. LeBron couldn't even do that. 

Just watch the first highlight and tell me with a straight face you're not sold. 

Now you may wonder why the Blazers would draft a 7'2" center just one year after taking 7'2" center Donovan Clingan in the first round. This is also the same team that rosters centers Robert "Timelord" Williams and Deandre Ayton. I gotta be honest I wasn't sure what the plan was for Portland after trading for Jrue Holiday's terrible contract, but it's tough to argue their vision now. Yang at the 1. Sharpe at the 2. Timelord 3. Ayton 4. Clingan 5. Championship. There's a new beast in the west and they hail from Portland, led by Chinese Jokic. Sorry OKC, your time is over.  Give me all the stock in Yang Hansen and get out of the way. In 2026 we go for our 3rd rookie of the year award. 

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P.S. I can't believe the NBA still has these guys put on the wrong hats after trades knowing very well they're not going to that team.