The Chinese center Yang Hansen got the chance to express his admiration for Nikola Jokic in a very charming way.
A new generation of NBA centers and big men is slowly arriving — players whose games are heavily influenced by Nikola Jokic and his years of dominance. Alperen Sengun was the first in that line, even earning the nickname “Baby Jokic.” Derik Queen of the New Orleans Pelicans, a rookie, has also been compared to Jokic since entering the league due to his playing style and build. Yang Hansen, a center from China, is another example of a player modeling his game after the Serbian star.
Claim Now The young big man is playing his first season in the world’s strongest league with Portland. Although his stats aren’t impressive, he got the chance to appear in the Rising Stars tournament, representing Team Austin.
His team was eliminated in the semifinals after a 40–34 loss to Team Melo. Hansen made a solid impression and scored ten points, but it wasn’t enough to advance.
When reporters asked whether he was excited about a potential meeting with the Serbian superstar, his answer triggered widespread laughter. Hansen does not speak English and uses a translator when talking to the media. The interpreter tried to soften his statement in a friendly way, unsure how to translate the funny sentence Hansen had actually said, rendering it as “can’t wait to chat with him.” Then the center himself jumped in, essentially telling him to just say what he really said:
“To kiss him,” Hansen said with a smile, further lifting the mood among those present.
"I can't wait to kiss him.”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 14, 2026
— Yang Hansen on Nikola Jokic. 🤣🤣🤣
(via @ohnohedidnt24)
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