The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t get the result they wanted in D.C., falling 115-111 to a rebuilding Wizards squad. But amid the frustration of a missed opportunity, there was a clear bright spot - rookie big man Yang Hansen turned in the most encouraging performance of his young NBA career.
Hansen only logged 12 minutes, but he made every second count. Portland was +11 with him on the floor - the best mark on the team - and for the first time this season, it genuinely felt like the Blazers were better with him out there. That kind of impact, in such limited run, is hard to ignore.
The 20-year-old looked more comfortable than he has all season. Confident in his reads, decisive with the ball, and sharp in his positioning, Hansen brought a level of poise that belied his age and experience.
He operated at the top of the key like a seasoned facilitator, threading passes to cutting guards and showing off the high-IQ playmaking that made him such an intriguing draft prospect. One of those dimes should’ve resulted in an easy two - if not for a blown layup by Caleb Love.
His final line - 6 points, 5 boards, 1 assist - doesn’t jump off the page, but that +11 tells a deeper story. Hansen’s game has always been more about feel than flash, and on a night when Portland needed a spark, he provided it.
Compare that to Donovan Clingan, who struggled mightily against Wizards big man Alex Sarr. Clingan finished a team-worst -17, as Sarr’s blend of size, mobility, and shooting range proved to be a tough matchup.
Hansen, by contrast, held his own and looked more adaptable in the face of Sarr’s unique skill set. It raised a fair question: Could the Blazers have benefited from giving Hansen a longer leash?
It’s the same version of Hansen fans got a glimpse of during Summer League - the cerebral, unselfish big who sees the floor like a point guard and makes winning plays that don’t always show up in the stat sheet. And in a season where wins are hard to come by, those flashes of development matter just as much - if not more - than the final score.
The Trail Blazers are still in the thick of a rebuild, and their long-term ceiling is tied closely to the success of their recent draft picks. Hansen was a swing - a high-upside gamble on intelligence, feel, and long-term potential. Early returns were shaky, but performances like this one are why it’s far too soon to write the book on him.
Development isn’t linear, especially for young bigs adjusting to the NBA’s speed and physicality. There will be setbacks. But if Hansen keeps stacking moments like this - moments where his presence clearly lifts the team - then Portland’s bet might just pay off.