China Has the NBA's Most Valuable Draft Prospect
The Dallas Mavericks were the unlikely winners of the National Basketball League's draft lottery on Monday. Their prize is the chance to get Cooper Flagg, the top college player in the country, when the NBA drafts kick off next month.
However, Flagg isn't close to being the most valuable prospect on the 2025 draft board. That honor belongs to Hansen Yang, a little-known 7 feet, 2 inches tall and 249-pound center who currently plays for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Houston Rockets have second-best NBA title odds at sportsbooks after Kevin Durant trade
Before Game 7 of this year's NBA Finals tipped off, the NBA world was stunned by a Kevin Durant blockbuster deal, sending him to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in next week's 2025 NBA draft and five second-round picks. It also sent a shockwave through the odds board at sportsbooks, as the Rockets moved from the 12-1 range to around +750 to win the 2025-26 NBA championship. Those are the consensus second-best odds behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are well ahead of any other team at +230. Advertisement "Good trade for Phoenix, adding Jalen Green and the 10th pick is the right direction," Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook told Yahoo Sports via text message. "We lowered Houston from 12-1 to +900 just based on perception. They should be in the mix no doubt, I just like the return for Phoenix better than what the Rockets got in a 37-year-old they have to extend." The New York Knicks (+900), Indiana Pacers (+950) and Cleveland Cavaliers (11-1) had the next-best consensus title odds at sportsbooks. "Having someone who can score in the half court was exactly what Houston was lacking all season, and it cost them dearly in the playoffs," Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in Atlantic City (a BetMGM book) told Yahoo Sports via text. "While this will be Durant's 18th season, he can still generate offense in the half court, even if he doesn't get to the basket as much as he used to. He should help a very young Rockets team, even if it's only a short stint." Advertisement Sherman and other oddsmakers did have Houston as the second-best team in the West in their power ratings, but cautioned the ranking was simply as of today's trade, noting, for example, if San Antonio traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo that could vault them to No. 2. "We slightly lowered the Rockets' title odds," Jeff Benson, director of sportsbook operations at Circa Sports said via direct message on X. "They upgraded and didn't give up a ton, especially the good young guys." The +750 odds are the best for the Rockets since the 2019 season, per Sports Odds History, when Houston was +700.
Washington Post
16 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Chisholm rallies Yankees to 4-2 win as New York takes 2 of 3 from Orioles
NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run double off the right-center field wall in a three-run eighth inning, leading the New York Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Sunday. New York won its second straight after losing seven of its previous eight games. A day after the Orioles were held hitless for seven innings by Clarke Schmidt, Jackson Holliday singled on Will Warren's first pitch, setting up a two-run first that included Ryan O'Hearn's run-scoring single and Colton Cowser's RBI double.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Luis Robert Jr.'s RBI forceout
Three Former Blue Jackets Win The 2025 Stanley Cup The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup for the second straight year last night, beating the Edmonton Oilers also for the second straight year. 1:08 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
