16th pick in the first round! Congratulations to the Chinese men s basketball team, after 18 years, the NBA has finally waited for the next "Yao Ming"

As we all know, in the 2025 NBA Draft not long ago, Yang Hansen from China was selected by the Trail Blazers at the 16th pick in the first round, becoming the third player in the history of Chinese basketball to enter the first round of the NBA after Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.

From the initial prediction of the 55th pick in the second round to the current counterattack in the first round, it almost squeezed into the lottery zone. The outside world still questioned that I could be selected in the 16th pick in the first round, because it was because of the Chinese market behind it, and the script of college students going to the 1985. But only I know the hardships along the way. 14 teams were trained in 28 days, spanning 27,600 kilometers, and they were all about training and traveling every day. They asked me if I was tired, and I said it was a big deal.

Time is back to the summer of 2024, and the NBA ushered in a rare draft New Year in ten years. This opportunity is undoubtedly extremely precious for a professional basketball player, and missing it may be forever. Looking at the eldest brother Cui Yongxi going to the United States to pursue his dream without hesitation, I, who had the most hope in their words, voluntarily withdrew from the expectant eyes.

Once the news that Yang Hansen voluntarily withdrew from the 2024 NBA Draft was revealed, I was tightly surrounded by overwhelming public opinion. Some people questioned that I was a flower in the greenhouse, and some even maliciously speculated that I gave up running because I couldn’t drive and cook and lacked the most basic independent life skills.

Faced with doubts, Yang Hansen could only plunge into the training hall and choose to use time to speak. Fortunately, the efforts will be rewarded. When he beat all his opponents in the joint trial, his draft prediction rankings rose all the way, and finally stood by the league president as he wished, all doubts condensed into ice, and the contempt that had once turned into praise now. Just as Teacher Huang Bo said, when you succeed, you will find that there are good people around you.

From going out to try it, I really succeeded. Yang Hansen's appearance ended the 18-year wait in the Chinese basketball world. This may be just a small step for Yang Hansen's career, but it is indeed a historic step for the entire Chinese basketball world. Everyone hopes that I can become the next Yao Ming and become China Jokic, but I still want to be myself, after all, everything has just begun. My story is still long, please continue to look forward to it.