The Trail Blazers' Yang Hansen is feeling the heat from his home country, and he's embracing it. In an interview with Rose Garden Report's Sean Highkin, Hansen discussed the pressure he faces from China to make a greater impact in the NBA during his second season. While American fans are generally encouraging, Hansen's biggest critics come from his homeland.
Hansen, who was selected with the No. 16 overall pick last year, struggled in his rookie season, appearing in just 43 games and averaging a mere 7.0 minutes per outing. His performance was criticized on social media in China, with some calling him lazy and fat, and viewing his time in the G League as a failure. However, Hansen sees these comments as a motivator.
"I like to read it," he said. "Everybody [in China] is tough on me because they want me to play better. I’m their hope. I look at it in a calmer and less negative way. The reason people take time to write comments is because they want me to be better on the court."
Hansen is determined to prove his critics wrong and is using the pressure to fuel his performance. He's shown signs of growth during Summer League games, posting impressive averages and dropping weight to get into better shape. He's also excited to play with Damian Lillard, who was recovering from an Achilles tendon tear last season.
"It will be easy," he said. "He’s a very good shooter, so I just need to set good screens for him."
Hansen's focus is on staying with the NBA club full-time this season, avoiding the back-and-forth between the Blazers and G League Remix that was challenging for him last year. He's eager to prove himself and make a positive impact on the team.
In summary, Yang Hansen is embracing the pressure from his home country to make a greater impact in the NBA. He's using the criticism as motivation and is determined to prove his critics wrong, showing growth and a positive attitude as he prepares for his second season with the Trail Blazers.
