Yang Hansen meets Jokic before the game. But no kiss on camera.
Jokic looked like he was ready for the smooch
Honestly the cheek kiss thing is a Serbian thing Jokic has done with teammates like DAJ, and I’m sure this is what Yang was referencing when he had his interview. It was probably a sign of respect wishing he was this close with Jokic and super wholesome, and Americans made it weird.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/G9Q1gpDky0
It was pretty clearly a joke from Yang what are you talking about lmao. How can you see the interview with him and his interpreter and think that it was not a joke but some show of respect man? Lmao
I don’t think he was doing it out of respect, but my first thought was, that he referenced Jok and DeAndre greeting eachother that way.
DAJ also talked about it on pods I think.
So it wasn’t a sign of respect then? What?
Its just a form of greeting.
Ah my bad I thought you were the person I had originally replied to who said that it was probably a sign of respect.
Np.
Wait, is that not how we were all interpreting this? Did people think Yang was just being lol random holds up spork?
I thought he was fucking with his translator tbh
He clearly knew how it would look or he wouldn’t have been so excited to get the translator to say it
Yeah but Jokic’s response when they asked him too
Americans made it weird? Bro it was clearly a joke 🤣
No one made it weird
I’ve been lied to. I want a kiss
Wholesome Yang
He looked like a kid meeting his favorite player
He is a kid meeting his favorite player
I think Jokic is too old to be called a kid but fair enough
Please, Yang, develop to an all star
He is ass right now, but its the stuff you want to be ass. His movement is pretty good for a 7 footer especially laterally but man he gets hunted on defense. He basically just has to get better basketball and he’ll be an All-star.
I hope we get another good Chinese NBA player, but the critique of “he just needs to get good at basketball” doesn’t bode well.
Yeah in theory I could be an all star if I got good at basketball
You just need to work on your shooting, dribbling, rebounding, court vision, decisionmaking, finishing, stamina, physical strength, post moves, and passing and I could see you making the NBA.
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
I’ve heard his defense is an issue which is weird because I thought he was the CBA’s DPOY. I guess I never double checked that, so 🤷
His defense is an issue in the NBA because the NBA can exploit him and the CNA can’t, especially with how much they can lure him out and drive by him
Players who can no longer play in the NBA go to that league and light it up.
Yeah I definitely get it’s a whole different league. I guess it’s just surprising to me that it doesn’t even translate to being an okay defender.
Being a 20 yo boy is tough when you have to play against 30 yo men, a lot of big men have trouble when they first enter the league. Hoping he goes far.
Heated Rivarly 2: Year of the Horse
The veteran versus the rookie banging it out down low!
Guys, no. The second season is gonna be KD, Russ, and Hardens polygamous relationship. The cocaine bear, the bachelor, the bear(d), and the REAL reason OKC got broken up.
That would be polyamorous. None of these guys were married while on OKC. Or rather, Brodie had been dating his future wife since 2007, they wouldn’t wed until 2015.
This was so cute
thank you for implying the high likelihood of off camera kissing
now kiss
We need a 3 way Serbian kiss with jokic Yang and Deandre
Add Deni and Nurkic in a sloppy 5 way makeout and we can have world peace
The Axis of Smooch
This was super nice
love how jokic lights up when he sees people he fucks with
He did a lil bow. Culturally aware Jokic,
Do Chinese people bow?
Not really lol, If you do it in china people will mostly laugh at you
That’s what I thought. Much more of a Korean / Japanese thing, right?
Remember when pingus kissed the buffalo on his head? 🥹
Yeah 🥹
What does that mean?
KP gave White a big ole smooch
Yang just waiting for the cameras to turn off before making his smooch-move
KISS RIGHT MEOW
Isn’t joker 7 feet tall? This guy is also 7 feet? Wtf
6’11 and 7’1
Sometimes it’s great to meet your heroes
please kith
Wtf jokic why did you not make his dreams come true. He should not be considered for MVP because of this
“Translator… stay out of this one”
Where is the kiss?
I thought he cant speak english
He doesn’t feel comfortable enough to do media sessions without a translator, which makes sense
“All time sleep” will forever be goated. My man likes his naps and whether or not you respect his level of English, you knew wtf he was talking about right there.
Also, unlike some athletes that speak English well but have a translator to have their thoughts expressed as accurately as possible, I think Yang just doesn’t know English that well yet.
Yes– also speaking in a language you’re not fluent in can be really embarrassing. Fucks with your head. It happens to nearly everyone at some point– sometimes its’ almost like a public speaking panic attack.
So it’s one thing to talk one-on-one with someone (especially if that person is also a non-native speaker), and quite another thing to be in a media session in front of 30 people with cameras and microphones.
He addresses that at the end of the video.
“i used all of it!” lmao this kid is awesome
Did you watch the video?
He’s gotten way better already
“Jokic, you never talk to me. Of course I speak English!”
Wait damn how tall is Yang?
NBA lists him at 7’1 (216cm)
the mental image of him on the sidelines accidentally cheering when Jokic hits something crazy is so funny to me.
Crazy to me they arent playing him more in the g league. I can’t think of any reason he shouldnt be starting every night for the Remix other than selling tickets and streams/ads to Chinese viewers.
Awwww
Yang looks to be in better shape every time I see him (from a non Blazers fan).
fanboying like he isn’t in the league and about to kill it in the next few years
This is the definitive moment.
He’ll have a legendary career from here on out.
If he practiced English for that imagine what he’ll do to gain notoriety around the league.
Context?
A little while back, there was a clip of Yang fielding questions through his translator. He said something and the translator changed what he said. Yang repeated it and made his translator say that he was looking forward to kissing Joker. The context and implication being that 1) it was a funny thing to make his translator say and, 2) Joker does a Serbian three kiss greeting with players he’s close with. This is the meeting.
Yang really looks like a 20-year old kid here, meeting one of his heroes. I hope he develops into a quality NBA player.
I’m rooting for him too.
Yang is so big, it’s easy to forget he’s just 20. He is obviously thrilled to meet Jokic. And for his part, Jokic is warm and gracious. Truly wholesome family entertainment.
Awesome