Yang Hansen’s three-pointer ties Yao Ming’s record! But don’t forget, times have changed!

Playing 10 minutes and 38 seconds off the bench, he made 1 out of 3 shots, scoring 3 points and pulling down 4 rebounds, with a +6 plus-minus, tied for third on the squad.

Because the main backup center Rowe was sidelined, he received the longest playing time in the first half of this season, lasting 6 minutes and 46 seconds.

Indeed, Yang Hansen made a three-point shot, which itself can be considered “news.”

If we must mention some “little-known facts,” Yang Hansen’s three-point attempts have now equaled those of Yao Ming.

Yao Ming attempted 10 three-pointers in his entire NBA career, making two of them.

However, times are different now, so such comparisons are meaningless.

Why did I choose this angle today? Because these two players left an impression on me.

The first one is Brook Lopez.

A few days ago, he made 9 three-pointers in a single game, helping the Clippers secure a win.

Big Lopez, a former teammate of Damian Lillard, started primarily as an inside player but transformed into a “big forward” with the arrival of the small-ball era.

Thanks to his high-arc shooting, he still maintains a steady role at age 37.

His transformation can serve as a model for many big men in the NBA, including Yang Hansen.

The second one is Klingenberg.

Little Yang’s best role model is right beside him.

Since returning, Klingenberg has made 9 of 14 three-point attempts over 7 games, shooting an impressive 64%.

In his previous 21 games, he made only 14 out of 58 shots from beyond the arc, a 24% success rate.

Klingenberg’s improvement in shooting is clearly visible to the naked eye.

Most of the time, his role on the Trail Blazers has been more of a workhorse—setting screens, grabbing rebounds, attacking second chances, and occasionally scoring easy baskets.

When Chinese fans and media complain about Yang Hansen’s limited playing time, I wonder if anyone has thought that the one who really deserves criticism might be Klingenberg.

He has also been running back and forth a lot.

But if you understand the Trail Blazers’ team, you’ll know that such running is traditional; even the former big man Nurkic did the dirty, hard work.

When Lillard returns, based on his playing style, centers will have to be even more prepared...

So, Yang Hansen needs to adapt in advance.

Including today’s made three-pointer, Yang Hansen has attempted 18 three-pointers since joining the NBA, making only 2, for an 11% shooting rate.

Logically, shooting should be his strength, the area where he should outperform Klingenberg.

In terms of ball skills and offensive versatility, he indeed has the advantage.

However, it appears that his three-point shooting has now been surpassed.

How did Klingenberg improve? In some ways, it was forced upon him.

He also faces competition and must punish opposing defenses in this way.

In reality, Yang Hansen possesses a more consistent shot, which is crucial for his survival in the NBA.

His defense and rebounding will improve as he gains more experience, but physically, he is unlikely to become an outstanding defensive player in the future—this is certain.

Like winning best defensive player in the CBA? That’s impossible.

His selling point must be his offensive adaptability.

The prerequisite for demonstrating playmaking ability is having a shooting threat. (See Nikola Jokic for reference)

Why hasn’t Sengun reached that level? It’s also due to insufficient mid- to long-range shooting consistency.

Looking at the history of Chinese players in the NBA, from Wang Zhizhi to Yao Ming to Yi Jianlian, all relied on their shooting to survive...

Was Yao Ming a top defender? Not really.

If Yao Ming were playing in the 2025 NBA, he would definitely take a large number of three-point shots.

In fact, if Yang Hansen hadn’t come to the NBA, he probably would never realize how important shooting is.

In Qingdao’s CBA team, he rarely took outside shots.

Finally, this also relates to our entrenched mindset about developing centers; certain ideas remain deeply rooted.

A typical example:

After Xu Xin joined the Guangzhou Long-Lions, foreign coach Mitchell personally guided him in shooting drills from inside the paint to beyond the three-point line, requiring Xu Xin to make 50 shots daily from the top of the arc.

During games, if the opportunity arises, he is encouraged to shoot boldly.

If a local coach trained him?

He would probably be told to “stick to the paint” honestly...