Jang Hansen recounts his meeting with his idol Nikola Jokić
“I can’t wait to kiss him.” » Lors du All-Star Weekend, Young Hansen a laughed at this statementand he was talking about… Nikola Jokić. He is his idol, and the Chinese newcomer thought he would have a chance to meet him, so he kissed him. Finally he had to wait another week and it was Friday night, during the arrival of the Nuggetsthat Hansen was able to fulfill his wish.
During the warm-up, the two players hugged and exchanged a few words. Yang was then able to clear up the confusion that arose from this term “kiss”. “I told him I didn’t want to kiss him, but in China it’s a sign of respect because I really like him as a player.” he says. “I practiced my English for more than 10 minutes and I used it all.”
Encouragement from his model
The young Chinese says that he discovered Jokić’s game at the age of 13, when the coach showed him the most interesting points and advised him to draw inspiration from them. “I’m speechless when I watch him play”he continued with the help of his translator. “We say to ourselves, ‘Wow, can we play like that?’ Featured content on YouTube or Chinese networks is one thing. But when you see him throughout the match, it’s really impressive. »
Unfortunately, he will have to wait to meet him on the field. Tonight, the Nuggets slapped the Blazers, and Jokic didn’t play in the 4th quarter. In contrast, Young Hansen entered the game for “garbage time.” But the rookie kept his model’s encouragement. “He told me not to be nervous all the time and said, ‘You’re a great player. Just go play.'”
As for Jokić, he was very touched by the enthusiasm of the Chinese. “He respects my game… He’s young. I remember when I first came into the league, I had players I admired. It was nice to share a moment with him.”
2026-02-21 13:52:00
