CENTER OF ATTENTION

Yang "Handsome" mania has taken over Las Vegas and will, quite possibly, soon sweep across the United States. Just 98 minutes across four games into his NBA adventure, China's rookie center Yang Hansen, being dubbed "Handsome" by his American fans, has more than proved he's worth the "wild gamble" — labeled by some draft analysts — that the Portland Trail Blazers made by selecting the virtually unknown 20-year-old prospect at a surprising 16th pick in the 2025 draft.

And he's turned many pre-draft sneers on his "Baby Jokic" moniker into cheers with his legit, all-around performance in Vegas, where fans, media and club staff alike made their own comparisons with the Denver Nuggets' three-time league MVP.

Over his four appearances in a Rip City jersey, Yang posted a well-rounded stats line of 10.8 points, five rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 blocks per game, helping the Blazers win three of its first four summer league games.

It didn't take long for him to justify his selection and demonstrate what Portland had sensed beyond his 7-foot-1 (2.16-meter) frame that the rest of the league hadn't in two years — the huge potential for developing a "point-center", as embodied by Jokic, who is capable of spacing the floor, shooting on the perimeter, protecting the rim and dictating plays from the high post.

Such a role has turned out to be a key component in an NBA winning formula, and one which Portland's front office never doubted Yang could play.

"You're all finally seeing what we saw," Portland's head coach Chauncey Billups said of Yang's game during live commentary from the sidelines of the Blazers' 93-87 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on July 15.

"We took him (early in the draft) and everybody had a lot to say about the pick," he added.

"All we cared about was that we thought he was an incredible prospect that was gonna fit in perfectly with our team.

"His passing obviously stands out. He's a good connector. Everybody likes to play with a great passer like he is. I think he's showed (that), and he's doing a really good job with that," Billups said while watching Yang score his summer-league-high 15 points, including three 3s, in the game against the Pelicans.

Portland's summer league coach Ronnie Burrell agreed, saying that Yang has lived well up to expectations.

"I think he played how some of us expected him to play," said Billups' assistant, who has 11 years of international experience himself, as an import player in France, Germany and Poland.

"He showed a lot of facets to his game. We know he's very versatile and skilled, and I just like the fact that he was having fun. He was loose and relaxed."

Off the court, Yang's easygoing personality has made his transition smoother than expected and quickly helped him win over new fans, who see him as a fun guy to get along with.

In the Pelicans game, after sinking a 3-pointer to open the scoring for Portland, Yang gestured toward the bench, apparently impersonating WWE superstar John Cena's iconic "you can't see me" celebration, having planned it beforehand with teammates Sean Pedulla and Andrew Carr.

"We joked that the bench would go wild if I did that move. Andrew bet me $100 I wouldn't do it. I did, and I told him he's buying dinner," Yang explained post-game through an interpreter.

"He's having fun (with) it," a post showing the moment on the Trail Blazers' official Instagram account read.

The instant bond he's built with teammates in the locker room will only help him overcome the language barrier sooner, rather than later.

"Guys like Caleb Love and Big O (Olivier Nkamhoua) are helping me a lot," he said. "They're teaching me English, and I teach them a few Chinese phrases. We're laughing and bonding. It's been really fun."

Still, the learning curve for Yang to fully deliver his potential in the world's most competitive league remains a steep one.

The turnover issues and foul troubles that threw him off pace at times in the summer league have exposed his current weaknesses in physical conditioning, strength — especially upper-body — endurance at high intensity and speed on defensive rotation.

He clearly knows how far away he remains, measured against the benchmark of a qualified rotation player in his rookie season, and where to push to improve.

"I have some conditioning problems and rebounding problems. And, once I got tired, I couldn't feel my legs and I became a liability for the team," Yang said after Portland's 96-86 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in his second summer league game.

"I need to work harder, get stronger and improve in every aspect. The low-post play is much tougher here. It's a really big challenge for my conditioning. I really need time to adapt to the new pace."

Although it's too soon to predict whether Yang could fill the big shoes left by his legendary compatriot Yao Ming, an eight-time NBA All-Star, pundits in the US just cannot wait to see the huge attention the young phenom pulls from the East.

"He's definitely going to bring a fan base with him to Portland," Chris Mannix, a senior writer with Sports Illustrated, said during a podcast with former ESPN commentator Rachel Nichols.

Nichols, who'd openly questioned Portland's pick of Yang right after the draft, now sings the praises of the club's smart move.

"I think the team drafts the best player they think will fit. But, it is a nice extra that he has this great personality, (and) that he will bring with him an entirely new fan base (from China). It's a nice bonus," she said.

"We saw an echo effect with Yao Ming back in the day. This echo effect around the franchise, again not why they drafted him, obviously, (but it) is a nice bonus."

The next Yao, or the next Jokic? Yang seems to only care about how to become a better version of himself.

"Eat well, sleep well," Yang said of his post-practice and off-day routines, adding with a smile, "and no PS5."

Jiang Xinyu contributed to this story.