Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen has been getting a lot of attention since the NBA draft and during his time in the Summer League.
He could be just what the Blazers need and might have a bright future in the NBA.
He recently said how he will be starstruck playing against Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
Hansen stated that he will want to take a picture with Jokic and stand in awe of his skills
Now, Jokic has responded, via the NBA on X.
“He’s good. I’m happy that when he gets in his prime, I’m probably going to be out of the league. He’s talented. Yes, we can have a picture or whatever he wants, and only if he plays bad against me. If I destroy him and I score a lot of points, then yes,” Jokic said.
There’s just one catch… Nikola Jokić reacts to seeing @Hans15Y’s request! pic.twitter.com/qP2MkOiNI3
— NBA (@NBA) July 23, 2025
That’s a fun, encouraging response to Hansen’s comments, and it’ll make fans very interested to see them interact for the first time in a few months.
Some people are calling the Chinese rookie the next Jokic because of his size and abilities.
As you can imagine, expectations for the young star are very high.
Hansen has done well so far, but there is a big difference between playing in the Summer League and the regular season.
Even though he has impressed, there is no guarantee that his rookie season will be strong.
If he comes up short, people will retract the “next Jokic” nickname, and his future could be in doubt.
Hansen is excited to get started and ready to play against his hero.
Will their first face-off go well for the rookie Blazer?
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