Blazers' Yang Hansen Meets Up With Nuggets Star Nikola Jokic

The two young NBA stars shared a lighthearted moment before their teams faced off.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 3:05am

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Portland Trail Blazers rookie Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 center often compared to Nikola Jokic for his elite passing and high basketball IQ, got to meet his basketball idol before the Blazers took on the Denver Nuggets. The two chatted and shared a lighthearted moment during pregame warmups, a meeting months in the making for the 20-year-old Hansen.

Why it matters

This interaction between the two young stars highlights the mutual respect and admiration they have for each other's games. As up-and-coming centers in the NBA, their matchup was highly anticipated, and this pregame moment added an extra layer of intrigue to the showdown.

The details

Hansen has been vocal about his admiration for the three-time MVP Jokic since the Blazers drafted him 16th overall last summer. He even joked during All-Star weekend that he 'couldn't wait to kiss' Jokic, to which the Nuggets star humorously responded that he'd only take a photo with Hansen if the rookie promised to play poorly against him.

  • The two players caught up during pregame warmups on February 21, 2026.

The players

Yang Hansen

A 7-foot-1 rookie center for the Portland Trail Blazers who has been compared to Nikola Jokic for his elite passing and high basketball IQ.

Nikola Jokic

The three-time NBA MVP and star center for the Denver Nuggets.

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What they’re saying

“I couldn't wait to kiss [Jokic].”

— Yang Hansen

“I'll only take a photo with [Hansen] if he promises to play poorly against me.”

— Nikola Jokic

The takeaway

This lighthearted interaction between the two young centers showcases the mutual respect and admiration they have for each other's games, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their highly anticipated matchup on the court.