A giant performance

Yang Hansen has finally shown Chinese fans what he is capable of and lived up to his billing as the future backbone of Team China.

After leading his country to back-to-back wins in two high-stakes FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the Portland Trail Blazers'2025 first-round draft pick has convinced even some of his harshest critics that he has what it takes to carry the nation's basketball hopes on the global stage — if he stays on the right track and keeps progressing as he is.

With the game on the line, and his team's qualifying hopes hanging by a thread, Yang rose to the occasion, nailing a game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds left to pull Team China past Lebanon 89-87 in a crucial 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifier on Monday in Zhuji, Zhejiang province. The win helped the host remain safely above the elimination cut with four qualifiers left to play.

Yang's strong all-round performance — a game-high 19 points to go with nine rebounds and three assists, and which culminated in his buzzer-beating finish off an inbound pass from captain Zhao Jiwei — set the tone for Team China's home challenge against the group leader, which had erased a six-point deficit within the final 25 seconds to tie the game 87-87 in what was a nerve-shredding period for the partisan home crowd.

Team China, however, has a towering young core to lean on, and Yang did not disappoint.

"I trusted the coaching staff's plan for me and stuck to what we practiced in training," Yang said of his clutch play that halted Lebanon's final surge and snatched the win for China.

"I tried my best to help my teammates solidify our defense and execute well on every possession.

"My improving performance on court has validated the progress I made in training," said Yang, who had to fly back home right after playing for Portland in last month's NBA Summer League to rejoin Team China in time for the two qualifiers.

"I played to my full potential in these games. I believe our guys will keep fighting hard and compete strongly in all the remaining qualifiers," said the 21-year-old NBA sophomore.

Unfortunately, he is expected to miss the rest of China's campaign after returning to the United States to join Portland's preseason camp.

It was Yang's second productive showing in a row during the current qualifying phase, after he contributed 15 points and nine rebounds as China routed Qatar 83-57 in Thursday's qualifier in Doha.

Riding on the momentum provided by Yang, Team China has climbed to a lone 3rd place in the six-nation group with a 5-3 win-loss record. Japan and Lebanon are joint top.

Only the top three teams from each group secure direct qualification to the FIBA showpiece, which is set to take place in Qatar from Aug 27-Sept 12 next year.

Only by making it to the World Cup next fall can Team China compete for Asia's sole direct qualifying quota for the 2028 Olympics.

The golden ticket will be awarded to the highest-ranked side from Asia, excluding Australia and New Zealand, at the FIBA marquee tournament in Doha.

For a national program that's failed to reach the past two Olympic tournaments at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, the Chinese men's team is desperate to rebuild its waning profile as a once almost invincible force in Asia, bolstered by legendary leaders like former NBA All Star Yao Ming and FIBA Hall of Famer Wang Zhizhi.

Thanks to Yang, China has had glimpse of another giant future leader, despite the fact he remains a work in progress.

Standing 7-foot-1 (2.16-meters) with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and weighing in at 114.6 kilograms, Yang has the build of a solid rebounder and rim protector, even measured by NBA standards, with his playmaking ability on the offensive end drawing pre-draft comparisons between his game and that of Denver Nuggets' three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

His acclimation to the pace, intensity and physicality of NBA basketball took longer, however, after he was benched by the Trail Blazers for the majority of his rookie season and was sent to the franchise's G-League affiliate for more drills during multiple spells.

Skeptics started wondering whether the much-vaunted prospect could fill the big shoes left by Team China's golden generation of Yao and Wang, with some even pointing to his easy-going and playful personality off the court as evidence of a lack of professionalism.

His recent strong showing for Team China, and commitment to both the national program and his NBA duty during a busy summer, however, has silenced most of his doubters.

"He is a young talent with untapped potential, and we know that his best is still ahead of him," Team China head coach Guo Shiqiang said of Yang's progress with the national squad.

"We have undergone a long and grueling training camp, and every player has pushed themselves hard each day, including Yang. Every team member's contribution is indispensable.

"(Without Yang) we will need everyone to step up and make bigger contributions in the remaining qualifiers. And we believe Yang will come back to us stronger with his NBA experience."

Team China will resume its World Cup qualifying campaign in November on the road, with games against Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, before wrapping things up with two final fixtures at home to Qatar and the Saudis in February and March.