Yang Hansen to skip FIBA Asia Cup, focus on development in Portland

The Chinese Basketball Association announced on Thursday that promising young center Yang Hansen will not participate in the national team's training camp or the FIBA Asia Cup, allowing him to focus on his development with the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA.

Yang, who recently competed in the NBA Summer League, requested permission to skip the international tournament to attend two short training camps hosted by the Trail Blazers beginning on August 11.

"After finishing his NBA Summer League stint, Chinese men's basketball player Yang Hansen immediately reported to head coach Guo Shiqiang about his experience in the Draft Combine and Summer League in the United States," the Chinese Basketball Association said in a statement.

"He applied to the national team and the Chinese Basketball Association, hoping to participate in two short-term training camps organized by the Portland Trail Blazers starting on August 11 in order to better integrate with his new team and further improve his skills. These camps are designed for rookies and players who need continued development based on their Summer League performance."

The Association added that the scheduling conflict between Portland's camps and the FIBA Asia Cup, held between August 5 and 17, prompted a decision to prioritize Yang's long-term development.

"After a comprehensive evaluation considering the long-term development of both the athlete and Chinese basketball, the Chinese Basketball Association has agreed to Yang Hansen's request to not participate in the national team training camp and games for the 2025 Men's Asia Cup, allowing him to fully prepare for the new season," the statement said.

Yang expressed his appreciation for the support in a social media post.

"My journey in the NBA Summer League has come to an end. I've learned a lot and also recognized my shortcomings," he wrote. "Every game, every confrontation has been a valuable experience for me. Due to a scheduling conflict with the preseason training camps, I will not be able to join the national team for the upcoming Asia Cup. I especially want to thank the Chinese Basketball Association and the national team for their understanding and support."

"From the moment I decided to chase my dream in the United States, I have always felt the strength of the entire Chinese basketball community behind me," he added.