SerpApi.Org
Yang Hansen feels pressure from his home country to make a greater impact in the NBA during his second season but the Trail Blazers center doesn’t feel that’s a bad thing.
Yang told Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin during a wide-ranging interview that his biggest critics come from China.
“American fans are more encouraging,” he said. “Everybody I meet tells me, ‘Welcome to Portland’ and ‘Good luck with the season.’ In China, because everybody wants me to play well, they want to push me more. There’s more pressure.”
Yang proved to be a work in progress after being selected with the No. 16 overall pick last year. He appeared in 43 games (one start) but only averaged 7.0 minutes in those outings. He posted averages of 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 31 percent from the field during those limited appearances.
According to Highkin, Yang took a lot of flak from his countrymen on social media. Some called him lazy and fat, and viewed it as a failure that he played more last year in the G League than in the NBA. There were comments that he was letting down his family and his country.
“I like to read it,” Yang said. “Everybody [in China] is tough on me because they want me to play better. I’m their hope. I look at it in a calmer and less negative way. The reason people take time to write comments is because they want me to be better on the court.”
Yang is eager to prove his critics wrong.
“I think it’s good,” he said. “It’s pressure for me, but everybody has pressure. It’s not bad to have pressure.”
Here’s more from Highkin’s interview with Yang:
- Yang showed growth during four Summer League games, posting averages of 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 blocks in 24.0 minutes. He was still turnover-prone, however (4.2). Yang has dropped weight and gotten into better shape. “I feel much better,” he said. “I’m faster. My pick-and-roll defense and rebounding I think are much better. Basketball is a contact game. My body is stronger.”
- He has a good feeling about new head coach Micah Nori. “He’s a good coach,” he said. “He wants to play a team game. He teaches us to focus on the details during [practices]. I’m excited to play for him in a game.”
- He’s looking forward to playing with Damian Lillard, who was recovering from an Achilles tendon tear last season. “It will be easy,” he said. “He’s a very good shooter, so I just need to set good screens for him.”
- He’s hoping to stay with the NBA club full-time this season after bouncing back and forth between the Blazers and G League Remix. “Going from the G League to the Blazers back and forth, sometimes it’s a long flight and I have to go to the airport early,” Yang said. “That was tough.”
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