Bonding on both sides of the ball
Sino-US ties on the basketball court remain stronger than ever
Yao being selected by the Houston Rockets in the 2002 draft ushered the game's globalization into a new era, with younger generations inspired to follow in the footsteps of the giant eight-time NBA All-Star thanks to his impact as not only an athlete, but also an ambassador of China to the US.
After a few more Chinese players plying their trade in the NBA for short stints, the league is counting on versatile young center Yang Hansen of the Portland Trail Blazers to emulate the legendary Yao.
The 21-year-old Yang, who was drafted by Portland at 16th overall last year, is expected to prove he's worth the wait by stepping up his game in the upcoming 2026-27 season as a Trail Blazer, following an underwhelming rookie season, in which he posted an average of 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 43 games.
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