Towering tall at 7-foot-1, Yang Hansen’s preseason debut at Chase Center was worth a sight. His Portland Trail Blazers teammates and tons of Chinese media were there to witness the moment. But most importantly, Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors stood gasping for breath. They had to wait for the final minutes of the fourth quarter to win. And as the Dubs took the 2-0 record in the preseason, it was Hansen who left a memorable impact.

But the 20-year-old ex-Quingdao Eagles star was more starstruck as his world of basketball simulation came to life. Once, Yang spent countless hours immersed in NBA 2K, his fingers dancing across the controller as he commanded his favorite team.

“Back when I used to play 2K, I often played as Curry,” Yang told the media through a translator after

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