Is Yang Hansen running out of chances? The Trail Blazers officially announce sending Robert Williams down for physical conditioning before returning to play.

On October 28th Beijing time, the Trail Blazers officially announced that center Robert Williams III has been assigned to their G League affiliate to undergo physical conditioning in preparation for his return to the court. This indicates Williams is close to making a comeback, which could further limit playing opportunities for Yang Hansen, who already has very limited minutes per game.

This assignment will give Williams additional time to train and support his “physical conditioning for return” program. According to U.S. media, this move sends a crucial signal: Williams’ recovery has reached a new phase, and a full return to the main roster is not far off. Over the past two seasons, Williams has only appeared in 26 games due to multiple knee and hamstring injuries.

He joined the Trail Blazers in October 2023 via trade from the Celtics and is known as a highly intimidating defensive player. Towards the end of training camp, he gradually increased his basketball activities, and this recent assignment to the G League further confirms the progress in his recovery.

Williams’ return will bring multiple benefits to the Trail Blazers’ frontcourt: providing tough defense including rim protection; adding scoring inside on offense while showcasing agile low-post passing skills. He can also inject much-needed game experience into the relatively young rotation.

Williams was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2022. Last season, he played 20 games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 5.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.

Yang Hansen has averaged only 5.7 minutes per game over his first three games, putting up 2 points and 1 rebound per contest. For Hansen, if he cannot secure more playing time in the NBA, being assigned to the G League to adapt to the pace of the game might actually be a good option for his development.