Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen will reportedly not play with the Chinese national team in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on Aug. 5-17, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.
Yang requested to skip the 31st edition of the event for the various subzones of Asia and Oceania to prepare for his upcoming rookie season in the NBA. He is set to participate in two training camps organized by the Trail Blazers beginning on Aug. 11.
The 16th pick in the 2025 NBA draft helped China qualify for the tournament, averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and one block in six appearances. The decision to skip the event was made to prioritize his long-term development.
Yang was an All-Star in each of the past two seasons with Qingdao in the CBA, the top professional league in China. He averaged 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, three assists and 2.6 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game across 45 appearances last season.
The 7-footer debuted with the Trail Blazers in the NBA Summer League, averaging 10.8 points, five rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 blocks on 45.7% shooting from the field in four games. He scored in double figures three times, including a 15-point effort on July 15.
Yang is highly touted for his overall skill set and ability as a player who can work down low, space the floor and protect the paint. The Trail Blazers have had him on their radar for the past two years and believe he can be a player who contributes at a high level on both sides of the court.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Trail Blazers news: Yang Hansen to skip 2025 FIBA Asia Cup with China
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