Hansen Yang was playing in the CBA at 18 and showed off an intriguing skillset at 7-foot-1. Could he be in play for the Sixers at No. 35?
Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Chinese big man Hansen Yang.
Hansen Yang started his professional career in the Chinese Basketball Association at the age of 18. In his first year, he was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year while also making the league’s All-Star team and being named to its Domestic First Team. He was again named an All-Star and received First Team honors in 2025. With his impressive size and skill, he’s as intriguing a second-round prospect as any.
Profile
2024-25 Stats: 53 games, 33.0 minutes, 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.7 blocks, 59.5 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 67.7 FT%
Team: Qingdao Double Star Eagles (Chinese CBA)
Year: N/A
Position: C
Height and Weight: 7’1.00” (without shoes) and 252.6 pounds
Born: June 26, 2005 (19 years old)
Hometown: Zibo, Shandong, China
Strengths
What stands out immediately is Yang’s size. Even without shoes he stands at 7-foot-1 and has a 7-foot-2 wingspan. At 252.6 pounds, he’s built solidly and likely has room to put on more muscle given his age. While he’s certainly not a great athlete, his testing numbers at the combine weren’t terrible. In fact, they were better than many other 7-footers, including Duke’s Khaman Maluach.
What makes him intriguing is the skill level he possesses at that size. He’s an excellent passer in all facets — out of the post, on the short roll, in DHOs. He’s able to see over the defense and delivers accurate passes to cutters and shooters. He’s an outstanding low-post scorer, displaying great footwork and excellent touch around the rim. The shot is a work-in-progress, but it’s fairly mechanically sound for a 7-footer. There’s legitimate stretch big potential.
The CBA is nowhere near the level of competition of the NBA, but Yang did excel as both a shot blocker and rebounder. What he lacks in explosiveness he makes up for with timing and a strong basketball IQ. His NBA team will likely be forced to play drop coverage almost exclusively, but the shot-blocking potential could make it work.
Weaknesses
While Yang moved decently during the combine scrimmages, it’s fair to wonder if his lack of athleticism will lead to problems on the defensive end. As mentioned, he’ll likely have to play exclusively in drop coverage at the next level. So while his offensive skillset could potentially provide versatility, the lack of explosiveness could make him a liability on the other end.
His low-post scoring and rebounding were impressive in the CBA, but will he be able to do those things at the same level against NBA athletes? Much of his success in the CBA in the post and on the glass was because of his height. As mentioned, he’s not super skinny at over 250 pounds, but he could still get bullied by bigger NBA centers while not having the necessary foot speed to hang with more athletic bigs.
Potential Fit in Philly
This feels like the type of prospect Daryl Morey would covet. While there are more experienced college players like Auburn’s Johni Broome and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner who could make sense at No. 35, Yang feels more like a Morey guy. Yang will turn just 20 next week, has an advanced skillset, and could even be stashed in China for a year, giving Morey more roster and financial flexibility.
Yang would make an intriguing tandem with last year’s second-round pick, Adem Bona. Bona is sort of the opposite of Yang as an undersized but hyper-athletic and defensive-minded big. It’s also not crazy to envision the optimized versions of both players sharing the floor.
Draft Projection
Yang’s range is sort of all over the place in the second round. Maybe with a modest trade back the Sixers could still land him while getting future draft capital. Look for a team that values upside over immediate production to take a swing on the Chinese big man.