Yang Hansen is poised to make his first career NBA start for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Active coach Tiago Splitter has elevated the Chinese rookie into the starting lineup at center for the Blazers’ game at the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
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The move comes in the wake of another round of injuries and illnesses for Portland, which will face the Grizzlies without its top two centers. Starter Donovan Clingan (left leg bruise) and backup Robert Williams III (illness) have been ruled out for the fourth game of the Blazers’ five-game trip.
Yang, one of the league’s biggest curiosities heading into the season who was selected with the No. 16 overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft, has played sparingly this season, averaging 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 12 games.
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Yang opened the five-game trip with the Blazers, but was assigned to the G League last week to play with the Rip City Remix. He started Thursday in Rip City’s loss to the San Diego Clippers, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
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The Blazers recalled Yang on Friday.
Read the original article on oregonlive.com.