After being selected for the Rising Stars game, Yang Hansen delivered his best performance yet.

Today, Yang Hansen arguably played the most impressive game since joining the NBA. Although his points and rebounds were not career highs, these stats came during genuine rotation minutes, and he made a tangible positive impact on the court.

The Trail Blazers’ loss to the Wizards, who had lost nine straight games, was a significant surprise. The 20 turnovers and 13 made free throws out of 23 attempts were the primary reasons for their defeat. Nevertheless, Yang Hansen performed very well in this game.

Because it was a back-to-back game, Lowry rested, which gave Yang Hansen the opportunity to get rotation minutes. With Holiday and Grant recently returning, the Trail Blazers have more players available, so Splitter naturally excluded Yang Hansen from the rotation, limiting his playing time to back-to-back games.

Right from the start, Yang Hansen’s two rim protections were excellent, both disrupting opponents’ layups. Although he didn’t directly secure several defensive rebounds, his height was crucial in protecting the ball.

Yang Hansen’s first basket came from a hook shot after a pick-and-roll slip; the ball circled the rim but fortunately went in. His only turnover was due to a lack of chemistry with Kamara—otherwise, it would have been a great lob pass.

In the first half, Yang Hansen shot 1 for 2, scoring 2 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and dishing out 1 assist, with a plus-minus of +6. During his over seven minutes on the court, the team was winning. Beyond the stats, his offensive and defensive pace improved significantly; he’s no longer hesitant to run back with opponents and is becoming more comfortable and effective, increasingly resembling a reliable rotation center.

Yang Hansen continued to play well in the second half. His second basket was a put-back under the rim, and he grabbed two consecutive offensive rebounds. If I’m not mistaken, he set at least two screens like “Gortat” to help teammates score easily. These screens don’t show up in the stats, but anyone watching knows the positive impact Yang Hansen has on the floor.

Yang Hansen’s rebounding today was arguably his toughest since entering the NBA. He frequently battled physically under the basket to secure offensive rebounds. Once his physicality improves, grabbing offensive boards with his height and wingspan will be much easier—his physical advantages are clear here.

After drawing fouls on rebounds, Yang Hansen made both of his free throws confidently. Earlier, we mentioned the Trail Blazers made 13 out of 23 free throws today; excluding Yang Hansen, the rest of the team made 11 out of 21. Yang Hansen’s career free throw record in the NBA is 17 out of 18, which is commendable for a center.

The most unfortunate play today was Yang Hansen’s no-look bounce pass to Love, threading through the defender’s back. The timing and technique of the pass were perfect, but surprisingly, Love missed an open layup, causing Yang Hansen to miss out on a spectacular assist.

Throughout the game, Yang Hansen shot 2 for 6, 0 for 1 from three-point range, and 2 for 2 from the free throw line, finishing with 6 points, 5 rebounds (3 offensive), 1 assist, and 1 turnover. His plus-minus of +11 was the highest on the team. In both of his playing stretches during the game, the team was ahead while he was on the court. The only downside was a few missed finishing attempts.

Three-point shooting definitely needs work; currently, he cannot rely on it as a regular offensive weapon. If Yang Hansen wants to run the offense from the top of the key, he must develop his three-point shot. Otherwise, like Draymond Green, standing at the arc unnoticed, it’s hard to effectively facilitate plays.

Regarding finishing two-point shots, Yang Hansen could be more decisive. After receiving the ball, he should simplify his moves instead of spinning around trying to shake defenders—most defenders won’t fall for those fakes. The NBA’s pace is very fast; a split second can mean missing the best scoring chance, especially with help defense ready. Many times, opting for a floater or attacking the basket to draw fouls would be more effective.

In the fourth quarter, Splitter did not put Yang Hansen back on the court. Although Klingen scored 14 points and grabbed 20 rebounds today, his performance was actually poor, especially on defense, where he struggled against Sarr. This shows that stats can be misleading. Splitter pulled Klingen for a small-ball lineup late in the game, proving Klingen was not in good form today.

Many people already know Yang Hansen will appear in this year’s All-Star Rising Stars game. He was selected as a G League player; with his averages of 17 points and 9 rebounds in the G League, his inclusion in the Rising Stars game is well deserved.

This marks the first time in many years that we’ll see a Chinese player during the All-Star weekend. Normally, the Rising Stars game lacks intensity, but because of Yang Hansen’s presence, this year’s game might be the most watched event of the All-Star weekend.

Over half a season, regardless of good or bad times, Yang Hansen has been quietly growing. After every game, he carries his small backpack, patiently waiting for the next chance to play.