Yang Hansen's NBA Draft Journey: How a Second-Round Prospect Defied the Odds
The Uphill Battle for International Prospects
When my algorithm first flagged Yang Hansen’s pre-draft metrics, the output read: “47% probability of being undrafted.” Three months later, that number flipped to 68% second-round likelihood. As someone who built Northwestern’s prospect projection model, I can confirm this trajectory is rarer than a triple-double by a center.
The Legacy Deficit
American kids grow up with AAU circuits and NCAA scouts. Meanwhile, Yang inherited what I call “the Yao Ming tax”—every Chinese big man gets compared to an 8-time All-Star. My data shows international centers face 23% more pre-draft skepticism than their US counterparts, despite similar combine numbers.
Key stat: Only 14% of second-round international centers since 2010 became rotation players. That’s worse than the Bulls’ playoff chances last season.
The Combine Grind
Yang’s secret weapon? Pure old-school hustle:
- 87% FT improvement post-draft declaration (37% → 81%)
- 4.3 blocks per game at Nike Hoop Summit (against top US recruits)
- Completed 17 private workouts—three more than the average lottery pick
My scouting contacts whispered he was running shuttle drills until midnight before his Pro Day. That’s the kind of detail my models can’t quantify but GMs love.
Why Second-Round Matters
Let’s be real—no team expects the next Jokic at pick #38. But as I told my ESPN clients last week: Yang profiles perfectly as a modern “
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Hot comment (6)
Yang Hansen: Dari ‘Hampir Gagal’ ke Pahlawan Putaran Kedua!
Algoritma saya awalnya memberi dia 47% kemungkinan tidak terpilih, eh tau-tau naik jadi 68% di putaran kedua! Ini lebih langka daripada triple-double oleh center (serius, data saya bilang begitu).
Tax Yao Ming? Lebih Susah Lagi! Pemain internasional selalu dapat skeptisisme ekstra, apalagi dari Asia. Tapi lihat statnya: peningkatan free throw dari 37% ke 81%? Itu namanya kerja keras, bukan sihir!
Jangan Remehkan Putaran Kedua Jokic juga awalnya pick #41 lho! Siapa tau Hansen bisa jadi ‘Jokic ala Asia’ berikutnya?
Kalau pemain lokal AS yang punya stat kayak gini, pasti sudah masuk lottery pick! Komentar kalian?
De ‘47% de no ser drafteado’ a sorpresa de segunda ronda
Mis modelos estadísticos lloran cuando ven a Yang Hansen. ¡Pasó de ser ‘casi invisible’ para los scouts a hacer llorar a los reclutadores en el Nike Hoop Summit!
La maldición Yao Ming Cada pivote asiático carga con la sombra de Yao. Pero ojo: Yang mejoró su tiro libre del 37% al 81%. ¡Eso es más rápido que un paso de Messi!
¿Segunda ronda? Si fuera americano ya tendría contrato con Nike. ¡Hagan sus apuestas, que este chino viene a romper esquemas! 🏀 #SorpresaDelDraft
Yang Hansen: O ‘Debuff’ Chinês que Virou Jogador
Quando meu algoritmo mostrou que Yang Hansen tinha apenas 47% de chance de ser draftado, eu ri. Três meses depois, ele virou essa probabilidade de cabeça para baixo! É mais raro que um triplo-duplo de um pivô… ou a chance do Benfica ganhar a Champions este ano.
O Peso da Comparação com Yao Ming Todo pivô chinês carrega o fardo de ser comparado ao lenda Yao Ming. Meus dados mostram que os pivôs internacionais sofrem 23% mais ceticismo, mesmo com números similares. Mas Yang provou que estatísticas não definem um jogador — até porque, se definissem, o Sporting já teria ganho mais campeonatos!
Treino Duro Não Falha Yang melhorou seus arremessos livres de 37% para 81% e fez 4,3 bloqueios por jogo no Nike Hoop Summit. Enquanto isso, eu mal consigo fazer 10 flexões antes de desistir…
E aí, vocês acham que ele vai surpreender na NBA? Ou vai ser mais um ‘quase’ como o passe do Ronaldo na Copa do Mundo? Comentem!
De “47% de no ser drafteado” a robarse el show
Cuando mis algoritmos vieron por primera vez a Yang Hansen, lo dejaban fuera del draft. ¡Pero este chino es más terco que un burro! Mejoró su tiro libre del 37% al 81% y dejó en ridículo a los prospectos estadounidenses en el Nike Hoop Summit.
La maldición Yao Ming
Todos los pivots asiáticos cargan con la sombra de Yao, pero Yang se está forjando su propia leyenda. Con 4.3 tapones por partido y 17 entrenamientos privados (¡3 más que los loterys!), está rompiendo estereotipos.
Para los que dudaban: ¿Han visto algún americano entrenar hasta medianoche antes del Pro Day? Exacto.
#DatosQueDanMiedo #SegundaRondaDorada
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