Billups: Yang Hanson's several qualities really impressed me; some small details matter a lot to me.

On October 9th Beijing time, the Trail Blazers faced the Warriors in their first preseason game of the season. Yang Hanson was also making his preseason debut. The Blazers released an official interview video featuring Billups, who talked about many facets of the team, including the rookie Yang Hanson. Below is the part concerning Yang Hanson—

The host said that when the Trail Blazers selected Yang Hanson, he had no idea who he was. “I knew Joe Cronin (the GM) and the scouting department were reliable, but when I saw that pick, I was completely clueless. Was anyone else there as confused as I was?” Many viewers raised their hands. The host continued, “Looks like quite a few people felt the same.” Billups joked, “The rest of the world probably feels the same way.”

The host went on: “But soon after, a three-minute video circulated online — showing his footwork, passing, and shooting. After watching it, I understood: ‘That makes sense, picking him was the right call.’ When did you ‘lock in’ on him? When did you realize ‘this name, this player’ was exactly who we needed?”

Billups said, “He had actually been on our ‘watch list’ for two or three years. The scouting department kept a close eye on him. Whether going overseas to watch games or reviewing footage, they tracked him for a long time. I had seen some clips of him before, and later we invited him for a workout. Many top rookies participated in that workout, but he was the best performer.”

“I was blown away at the time; all of us were impressed by him: his footwork, skills, basketball IQ, and especially the ‘energy’ I value so much. He’s great at ‘connecting teammates’ — when someone scores, he goes to give high-fives; if someone falls, he runs over to help them up. Those ‘small details’ matter a lot to me because they show he’s a good teammate.”

Billups added, “At the end of the day, many things you can’t teach a player, and he possesses many of those ‘unteachable traits.’ As for what I can teach, I’m confident I can help him improve. Isn’t that what the draft is all about?”

It’s clear that Billups highly values the qualities Yang Hanson brings, and he looks forward to an outstanding rookie season from him.