Explosive performance! Team leader! NBA second overall pick comments on Yang Hansen

Coming off the bench for roughly 12 minutes, Yang Hansen shot 2 of 6, including 0 of 1 from beyond the arc, tallying 6 points, 5 rebounds (3 offensive), and 1 assist, with a team-high +11 plus-minusHe was impactful on both offense and defense, likely having his finest performance of the season, but unfortunately, the Trail Blazers fell short 111-115 against the Wizards.

On the Wizards’ side, the 2024 second overall pick, Salle, had a career-defining game, taking 29 shots and making 11, scoring 29 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, dishing 3 assists, making 2 steals and blocking 6 shots, with a +16 plus-minus. He outperformed Klingen (14 points, 20 rebounds, -17 plus-minus) in their matchup.

After the game, in an interview,Yang Hansen spoke about Salle, noting that compared to a few years ago, Salle is now stronger and more skilled, which helps him secure his place in the NBA. Yang admitted he still has much to learn from him.

During the 2023 U19 World Cup, China lost 63-83 to France; in that game, Yang Hansen posted 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks, while Salle had 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals.

It’s worth mentioning that Yang Hansen’s selection as the 16th pick in the first round of the 2025 draft was partly due to his strong performance against Salle at the U19 World Cup, a game watched by many NBA scouts.

Just a few days ago,Salle also spoke highly of Yang Hansen, praising the Chinese player’s smooth shooting touch and solid post moves.

Born on April 26, 2005, Salle is a 2.13m tall big man with a 2.23m wingspan. Now in his sophomore NBA season, he averages 28.6 minutes per game, contributing 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game, with shooting percentages of 49.8%, 34.3%, and 71.2%. He has become an indispensable interior core for the Wizards.

By the way, Salle and Wembanyama form a super twin tower duo that will lead the French national team across FIBA competitions for many years to come.

Finally, back to Yang Hansen, who has one particularly impressive stat in his NBA career so far,making 17 of 18 free throws over 27 games, boasting an outstanding 94.4% free throw percentageNo wonder the Trail Blazers often position him in the corner during offensive plays, confident he will develop into a versatile big man with strong spacing abilities in the future.