Peninsula All-** Special Chief Reporter Du Jincheng.
On the evening of December 9, at the scene of Qingdao Guoxin Aquatic Men's Basketball Team's away challenge to Shenzhen Men's Basketball Team, a foreigner wearing a baseball cap attracted the attention of reporters. After inquiry, it was learned that he was Kevin Connelly, the younger brother of Timberwolves president of the NBA NBA, Timberwolves. The purpose of his trip is very clear, that is, to inspect the new star of the Qingdao men's basketball team, Yang Hansen. Previously, when the Qingdao men's basketball team challenged the Tianjin men's basketball team away, scouts from the NBA Trail Blazers appeared on the court. Obviously, 18-year-old Xiao Yang has already attracted the attention of the other side of the ocean.
Kevin Connelly is a former manager of the NBA Nuggets and the younger brother of current Timberwolves president Tim Connelly. He has identified a number of potential players to establish themselves in the NBA, including Jokic, who is now playing well with the Nuggets. It is reported that he went to China this time to help the Bulls inspect Yang Hansen.
After the Shenzhen men's basketball team played against the Qingdao men's basketball team, Connelly looked very excited. He chatted with reporters about Yang Hansen's performance on the court, "He is very young, and he is not afraid against a player with rich NBA experience like Sallinger, he started well, but he was a little tired in the second half, he didn't score an empty basket, and the opponent's defense in the second half also limited him." ”
This is not the first time that Yang Hansen has attracted NBA scouts to watch the game, as two assistants to the NBA Trail Blazers general manager observed Yang during the previous game against Tianjin, one of whom is also a former NBA draft expert. There is no doubt that since Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, and Zhou Qi have faded out of the NBA one after another, Yang Hansen's talent has once again attracted the attention of basketball people on the other side of the ocean.
"It's very good for him to play like this at this age, he's very confident on the court, he's got a lot of technique, he's got a chance [to go to the NBA], but he's still a little bit slow and there's a lot to improve on," Connelly said of his feelings about playing in the game. ”
Under the current NBA draft age limit, players must be at least 19 years old to be eligible for the draft. Yang Hansen will only turn 19 in June next year. The NBA draft is basically held in the month of each year, so even if Xiao Yang develops well, he will not be selected by the NBA until 2025 at the earliest. But in the past two years, I believe that Yang Hansen and the Qingdao men's basketball team will continue to feel the attention from the NBA.