As the 2025 NBA Draft kicks off on June 26, 2025, with the second round unfolding on Thursday, the Golden State Warriors face a pivotal moment with only the 41st overall pick. After a 46-win season but a first-round playoff exit against the Warriors, fans are buzzing on X about the need for a fresh talent to complement their aging core of Stephen Curry, 37, and Draymond Green, 35. According to Sam Gordon of the Warriors, the Warriors recently worked out Hansen Yang, a 7-foot-2 Chinese center who dazzled as a two-time All-Star for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Averaging 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks, with a surprising 33.8% from three, Yang’s unique blend of size, passing, and defensive impact—highlighted by a standout NBA Combine scrimmage (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists)—makes him a tantalizing prospect. Can this international phenom, compared to Nikola Vučević and Domantas Sabonis, be the Warriors’ second-round gem, or will his limitations in today’s fast-paced NBA hinder his fit? Let’s dive into this draft intrigue.
Hansen Yang’s CBA Dominance: A Skilled Big Man Emerges
Hansen Yang, born June 26, 2005, in Zibo, Shandong, is a 19-year-old prodigy who has taken the CBA by storm. Standing 7-foot-2 with a 7-foot-2.75 wingspan and 9-foot-3 standing reach (measured at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine), Yang’s 252-pound frame anchors the Qingdao Eagles. In 2024-25, he played 45 games, averaging 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and a league-leading 2.6 blocks in 32.8 minutes, shooting 58.6% from the field, 33.3% from three (0.4/1.1 attempts), and 61.3% from the free-throw line. His accolades include two CBA All-Star nods, 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and First-Team honors, showcasing his dominance at 18.
Yang’s offensive versatility sets him apart. His 1.2 points per possession in post-ups (88th percentile, per Synergy) reflect advanced footwork, hook shots, and drop-steps, drawing Nikola Vučević comparisons for his craft. His playmaking—3.0 assists per game, 4.7 at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup—evokes a bigger Domantas Sabonis, with vision to hit cutters or skip passes from the elbow. Yang’s combine scrimmage (11 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds) showcased slick passing, earning Nikola Jokić-like buzz on X. His 33.3% three-point shooting, though on low volume, hints at stretch potential, vital for Golden State’s 4th-ranked three-point attempt rate (39.8%). Defensively, his 2.6 blocks and 8.4% block percentage led the CBA, deterring shots in drop coverage with timing and reach.
Yang’s journey adds intrigue. A late bloomer who started basketball in third grade, he wasn’t a standout until Qingdao’s youth system in 2020. By 2021, he led Qingdao to a U17 National Championship, earning Defensive Player of the Year, and was MVP in 2022. His 2023 U19 World Cup (12.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.0 blocks) and CBA debut at 18 drew NBA scouts, though he opted to stay in China for 2024-25 to refine his game. Signed with Klutch Sports, Yang’s combine performance and workouts with teams like the Nets, Pacers, and Warriors signal his NBA readiness.
Fit with the Warriors: A Big Man for a Small-Ball Dynasty?
The Warriors, fresh off a 46-36 season and a playoff loss, rely on Stephen Curry (26.4 points, 41.0% 3PT) and Draymond Green (8.6 points, 6.0 assists) but face frontcourt uncertainty. Kevon Looney’s $8 million expiring deal and Trayce Jackson-Davis’ emergence (7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds) leave gaps in rim protection (22nd in blocks at 4.6 per game) and rebounding (18th at 44.2 per game). Yang’s 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks could bolster Golden State’s 15th-ranked defensive rating (112.8), while his passing fits their motion offense, which led the NBA in assists (29.3 per game).
Yang’s short-roll playmaking (1.1 points per possession, 85th percentile) and lob-finishing complement Curry’s pull-up gravity (40.8% on 11.8 three-point attempts). His 3.1 offensive rebounds per game align with Golden State’s 12th-ranked offensive rebound rate (28.2%), creating second-chance points. Coach Steve Kerr’s system, emphasizing bigs who screen and pass (think Andrew Bogut’s 2015 role), suits Yang’s high IQ and 6-assist combine outing. His 33.3% three-point shooting, if scalable, could stretch defenses, though his 61.3% free-throw rate suggests shooting remains a work in progress.
Defensively, Yang’s drop coverage fits Golden State’s scheme (used on 62% of pick-and-rolls, per Second Spectrum), leveraging his 9-foot-3 reach to contest lobs and floaters. His 1.0 steals show active hands, akin to Dewayne Dedmon’s hustle. However, Yang’s slow feet—evident in combine drills (slowest lane agility at 12.8 seconds)—limit perimeter switching, a concern in Golden State’s 8th-ranked pace (99.6 possessions) and against shifty guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His 252-pound frame holds up against traditional bigs like Nikola Jokić but may struggle with mobile fours like Giannis Antetokounmpo, forcing Kerr to pair him with Green’s versatility.
Compared to other prospects like Duke’s Sion James (6-foot-6 wing, 3-and-D potential), Yang’s upside is higher but riskier. At No. 41, a Dedmon-like contributor (career 7.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks) would be a steal, but Vučević or Sabonis comparisons are optimistic given Yang’s unproven athleticism against NBA talent.
Risks and Rewards: A Second-Round Swing with All-Star Potential
Selecting Yang at No. 41 offers tantalizing upside. His 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in the CBA mirror Alperen Şengün’s Turkish League production pre-draft, suggesting starter potential if his passing (top-5 among CBA bigs) and post game translate. His combine scrimmage (75% shooting, 6 assists) and 2023 U19 World Cup (5.0 blocks, 2nd-team All-Tournament) prove he can shine against peers. If Yang refines his 33.3% three-point shot to 35% on 2-3 attempts, he could become a Vučević-like hub, elevating Golden State’s 7th-ranked offensive rating (115.2). X posts laud his “Jokić-lite” passing, with some projecting a top-15 pick ceiling.
Yet, risks loom large. The CBA’s lower athleticism (average vertical jump 28 inches vs. NBA’s 34) inflates Yang’s stats, and his 67% free-throw rate over two seasons questions shooting growth. His slow foot speed (minimal lateral quickness, per combine agility tests) and stiff hips make him a drop-coverage-only defender, a liability against pick-and-pop bigs like Karl-Anthony Towns (40.0% 3PT). Scouts on X debate his fit, with some labeling him a “CBA star, NBA bench” due to athleticism concerns. The Warriors’ $178 million payroll, near the second apron, demands immediate contributors, and Yang’s rawness (3.0 turnovers per game) may require G-League time, clashing with their win-now timeline.
Historical CBA-to-NBA transitions temper expectations. Yao Ming (2002 No. 1 pick, 8x All-Star) is an outlier, while Yi Jianlian (2007 No. 6, 7.9 points) and Zhou Qi (2016 No. 43, 1.3 points) struggled with NBA speed. Yang’s skill set aligns more with Marc Gasol or Vlade Divac, but his median outcome may be a backup like Dedmon, valuable but not transformative. The Warriors’ draft hits—Jordan Poole (No. 28, 2019) and Jackson-Davis (No. 57, 2023)—show their knack for second-round value, but misses like James Wiseman (No. 2, 2020) highlight big-man risks.
With the 2025 NBA Draft’s second round on June 26, 2025, the Golden State Warriors’ 41st pick could land Hansen Yang, a 7-foot-2 Chinese center whose CBA dominance (16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) and passing flair have sparked Vučević and Sabonis comparisons. His fit in Golden State’s pass-heavy, rim-protecting system is promising, but slow feet and unproven shooting raise concerns in today’s pace-and-space NBA. At No. 41, Yang’s upside as a skilled big makes him a worthy gamble, but his rawness tests the Warriors’ patience amid a championship chase. As Warriors fans flood X with draft hype, will Yang be the second-round steal to extend their dynasty, or a project too green for the Bay? Share your takes and join the draft-night excitement!