Yang Hansen said he needed to adapt to the NBA and improve his overall game after making his debut for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Taken 16th overall in this summer’s draft, Yang came off the bench to play just over five minutes in the first half as the hosts lost 118-114 at home to the Anthony Edwards-inspired Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener.
Edwards, who set a career high last season with an average of 27.6 points, erupted for 41 points on 14 of 28 shooting, while adding seven rebounds.
Yang, meanwhile, became just the eighth player from China to play in a competitive NBA game, following in the footsteps of the likes of Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian and more recently Jacky Cui Yongxi.
“It’s some whole new experience to be on the court, I was experiencing a new league and a new level of intensity,” said Yang, who finished with two points, one rebound and one foul on his debut. “I need to adapt to the league and improve on areas that I am not good enough at.”
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels dunks over Yang Hansen. Photo: AP
He first entered the game with seven minutes and 13 seconds to go in the opening quarter and connected on a pair of free throws when coming back off the bench early in the second.