Nikola Jokic is rightfully going to go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball, and even Denver Nuggets fans never saw him reaching the level he's currently at way back when he was drafted. With that in mind, the NBA is a copycat league, and young players are always going to mimick the playstyles of those they grew up watching. And in Yang Hansen, the Portland Trail Blazers' 2025 draft selection, we may be seeing the first big man who structured his game around watching Jokic.
It is not difficult to see the connection. Hansen is not the most athletic player in his class, nor is he a volume scorer or floor spacer yet. But his game thrives on feel, positioning, anticipation, and above all, the ability to see the floor as if he were a guard. Sound familiar? That description might have undersold Jokic himself a decade ago, before he turned into a three-time MVP and Finals MVP whose playstyle helped usher in a new era of offense-first, passing-savvy bigs.
What makes Hansen so unique is how comfortably he operates with the ball in his hands. He initiates offense from the elbow or post, directs traffic, and makes skip passes with either hand. His skill set is based far more on intellect and timing than speed or lift. That used to be a death sentence for draft stock. Now, it is increasingly seen as upside, especially with Jokic proving that elite basketball IQ and skill can beat out traditional athletic traits in the right context.
Jokic's influence is obvious in Yang Hansen's game
Of course, that does not mean Hansen is bound to become the next Jokic. There are very real concerns about how he will hold up defensively, especially against quicker players and in space. His outside shot is still developing, and his lack of burst could hurt him in switch-heavy NBA schemes. But none of that changes the fact that prospects like him are now being taken more seriously because of what Jokic has done to reshape expectations.
Jokic has shown that if you surround a cerebral big with the right teammates, he can anchor both your offense and your culture. That kind of gravity does not require sky-high verticals or elite first steps. It requires anticipation and a relentless commitment to making the right read. Hansen is not there yet, but his game is clearly cut from that same cloth. And it is no coincidence that we are now seeing more of these types of players entering the league than ever before.
Whether Hansen pans out or not, the trend is unmistakable. Nikola Jokic has done more than just win MVPs and become the best player in the game. He has planted seeds for a new archetype of center, one that values brains over burst. And with each new draft class, it becomes more obvious that the world of basketball is listening.