With 7-foot-1 with the ability to score, China's Yang is looking for the draft of a combine in search of an NBA shot

Associated Press

Chicago (AP) – Yang Hansen had just asked questions in his homeland for 20 minutes and then decided to show a little of his Englishman when he went out of the room.

“Bye,” he said, stretching his arm into the sky when he said goodbye. “Bye.”

When it comes to English, he may still have a lot to learn. When it comes to basketball, he tries to show that he already knows a lot.

Yang-a 7-foot 1, 253 pound center from China-is one by a number of international players in the design in Chicago in Chicago, which meet with teams and are set by drills. It also takes part in the 5-against-5-scoriming under the watchful eye of managers of each NBA team.

He will be 20 years old on June 26, the day on which round 2 is selected in this year's NBA design. That could turn out to be a fairly unforgettable birthday for the Chinese great man.

“He is really lucky here,” said Chris Liu, Yangs interpreter after having forwarded questions from the Associated Press. “And then he is really ready to compete with everyone and against everyone. That really enjoyed him.”

Yang knows that there is an inevitable comparison. Each Chinese center is likely to be asked for the end of the time after the Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming, who was by far the best Chinese player at 7-foot 6 who has ever been hit on the NBA.

Yang is not Yao. Being the next yao is not realistic. The goal is to be the best version of Yang. He has gifts: a nice gesture around the basket and the firm fit among them. He also has things that he can work on, just like almost every 19-year-old who tries to get into the league.

“Yao Ming is my predecessor,” said Yang in Mandarin. “I always respected him. I want to learn from him.”

There is a learning curve that goes beyond the language barrier. Liu sat on the bench and in the Huddles in games during the combine harvester and translated what is said by trainers and others. But if Yang goes into games, he doesn't need much additional explanation.

Yang achieved an average of 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in the Chinese basketball association last season and was an all-CBA selection for the first team. And this design combine is not his first trip to the NBA world – he was one of the NBA Summer League prequels in Las Vegas in a team that China sent to California Classic Summer League last year.

Yang has also worked in Los Angeles in recent weeks. Former Florida Atlantic and the Michigan Center Vladislav Goldin – another hope – among those who were with him for some of these meetings. Goldin and Yang were teamed up in one of the draft combine scrimmages.

“We somehow know each other,” said Goldin. “It was just cool.”

There was only a handful of players born in Chinese who reached the NBA. Cui Yongxi was the only one this season; The 6-foot 6 shooter performed with the Brooklyn Nets in five games before torn his ACL in a G League game.

Yang could stand with long chances. He doesn't seem to be concerned.

“I'll do my best,” he said.

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