Yang Hansen’s Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom

Yang Hansen comes from a supportive family in Zibo, Shandong, China, that played an important role in transforming him from a reluctant young basketball player into an NBA first-round draft pick. Born on June 26, 2005, the Chinese center is the son of Yang Lin and Zhu Jing.

His father’s passion for basketball provided the earliest influence on his sporting career, while both parents supported the difficult decisions that eventually took him from Zibo to Qingdao and then to the United States. Yang has also become more open about his romantic life, publicly discussing his girlfriend, known as Xiao Ai, during a 2026 interview.

Who Is Yang Hansen’s Girlfriend?

Yang Hansen has publicly confirmed that he has a girlfriend. She is generally referred to in Chinese media and in coverage of Yang’s interviews as Xiao Ai, written 小艾 in Chinese.

For much of the beginning of his NBA career, Yang kept his relationship relatively private. Although photographs and reports about the couple circulated online, he initially said very little publicly about his girlfriend.

That changed in 2026 when Yang discussed her directly during an interview with the Chinese basketball program Basketball Figures.

Yang explained that Xiao Ai has become an important part of his support system while he adjusts to living and playing basketball in the United States.

According to Yang, he did not know how to cook when he first moved to America and regularly ate outside. Xiao Ai subsequently began learning how to prepare meals at home.

He recalled occasions when he returned from road games at approximately two in the morning and found that she had prepared a warm meal for him before he went to sleep.

How Xiao Ai Helps Yang Hansen With His NBA Career

Yang has portrayed his girlfriend as more than simply a romantic partner. She also helps him manage some of the everyday challenges associated with being a young international player living thousands of kilometres from home.

Yang has described himself as relatively quiet and not always comfortable expressing what he wants. He said Xiao Ai understands him well enough that she can sometimes help communicate his thoughts and assist with situations he does not know how to handle himself.

She also apparently makes sure he remains disciplined.

In one lighthearted example, Yang revealed that there are evenings when he does not feel like training, but his girlfriend tells him that he still needs to go and pushes him to complete his work.

Yang described a small support structure around him in the United States in which his girlfriend assists with family and everyday matters, his interpreter helps with communication involving the basketball organization, and Yang focuses primarily on being a player.

Did Yang Hansen Publicly Confirm His Relationship?

Yes. By 2026, Yang Hansen was openly referring to Xiao Ai as his girlfriend in interviews.

He also publicly celebrated Valentine’s Day with his partner, sharing a photograph of the couple and a romantic message on social media.

While various online reports have attempted to reveal additional information about Xiao Ai, relatively little verified biographical information about her has been published.

For that reason, claims about her full legal name, occupation and other private details should be treated cautiously unless either she or Yang confirms them publicly.

Does Yang Hansen Have Children?

Yang Hansen has no publicly known children.

Neither Yang nor his girlfriend has announced having a son or daughter, and reliable reporting about his family and relationship does not indicate that he is a father.

As of now, there are no publicly confirmed children in Yang Hansen’s family.

Who Are Yang Hansen’s Parents?

Yang Hansen is the son of Yang Lin and Zhu Jing. He grew up in Zibo, a city in China’s Shandong province, where his parents encouraged him to participate in sports long before anyone knew that he would eventually reach the NBA.

Yang’s father was particularly influential in introducing him to basketball, while both parents supported his progression through increasingly competitive levels of the sport.

Yang Hansen’s Father: Yang Lin

Yang Hansen’s father is Yang Lin, whose Chinese name is written 杨霖.

According to The Washington Post, Yang Lin worked as an electrician and was also a well-known amateur basketball player in Zibo.

Although he never developed the professional career that his son eventually achieved, basketball was an important part of Yang Lin’s life.

Standing more than 1.9 metres tall, he was considerably taller than average and became known within his local basketball community.

His love for basketball meant that Hansen was exposed to the game at a very young age.

Yang has recalled following his father to basketball games when he was approximately three years old. Basketball was also frequently on television in the family home because his father enjoyed watching the Chinese Basketball Association.

How Yang Hansen’s Father Introduced Him to Basketball

Interestingly, Yang Hansen did not immediately share his father’s enthusiasm for the sport.

As a child, he was taller and heavier than many children his age. His parents wanted him to become physically active, partly to help him lose weight and find an activity that could benefit him in the future.

His father encouraged him to experiment with several sports. Yang tried activities including table tennis, swimming and taekwondo before eventually returning to basketball.

When one of Yang’s early basketball opportunities disappeared, his father used his connections within the local basketball community to find another team for him.

Yang has recalled being around eight years old and practicing outside in extremely hot weather. He initially disliked the experience so much that after only a few days he refused to get out of the family car when his parents brought him to practice.

His father did not abandon the idea, however. Instead, he continued encouraging his son to find a sport or skill that he could develop seriously.

Eventually, Hansen began enjoying basketball and demonstrated enough potential to enter more structured training.

Yang Lin’s Role in His Son’s Development

As Yang grew older, his father became one of the people responsible for guiding the early stages of his development.

Yang Lin had connections with coaches in the Zibo basketball community and helped his son enter professional training environments.

In 2016, when Hansen was approximately 11 years old, his basketball development became considerably more serious as he entered the Zibo sports school system.

Those early decisions eventually attracted the attention of Qingdao’s basketball organization, which saw the potential for Yang to develop into an elite professional center.

Yang Lin and the rest of the family later supported the decision for Hansen to continue his development with Qingdao.

Yang Hansen’s Mother: Zhu Jing

Yang Hansen’s mother is Zhu Jing, written 朱静 in Chinese.

Unlike her son and husband, she does not have a publicly documented competitive basketball background.

The Washington Post reported that Zhu Jing worked as an accountant. Some Chinese profiles have instead described her as having worked in pharmaceutical sales, meaning public reporting about her exact profession has not always been consistent.

What is much clearer is the role she played in supporting her son.

Zhu remained closely involved as Hansen progressed from youth basketball into Qingdao’s professional system, but she and her husband also allowed him to become increasingly independent as his career developed.

How Yang Hansen’s Mother Supported His NBA Dream

When discussions about a possible move to the NBA became serious, Zhu Jing publicly supported her son’s ambition.

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, Yang’s parents explained that their son had long dreamed of competing in the NBA and that they fully supported his attempt to reach basketball’s highest professional level.

Zhu also explained that the family trusted Qingdao’s basketball organization because it had developed a clear plan for Hansen and had promised not to prevent him from pursuing an NBA opportunity when the appropriate time arrived.

His parents travelled to the United States ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft so they could be present for one of the biggest moments of their son’s career.

The occasion became even more special because the first round of the draft took place immediately before Yang’s 20th birthday.

Does Yang Hansen Have Siblings?

There is currently no reliable public information identifying any brothers or sisters of Yang Hansen.

Major profiles of the Chinese center have extensively discussed his mother and father but have not named any siblings.

This does not necessarily mean that Yang is an only child. It simply means that no brother or sister has been reliably documented in the publicly available sources surrounding his basketball career.

Because family information can easily become distorted as it is repeated across biography websites and social media, it would be inaccurate to invent names or state definitively that Yang has no siblings without stronger evidence.

As of now, his sibling status therefore remains private or publicly unconfirmed.

How Yang Hansen’s Parents Helped Him Become an NBA Player

Yang Hansen’s journey is unusual because he did not grow up dreaming about basketball from his earliest childhood.

His father initially encouraged sports partly because Hansen was overweight as a child and needed an activity that would keep him physically active.

Even when the young Yang resisted basketball training, his parents continued helping him explore different sports rather than abandoning his athletic development.

Once he developed a genuine interest in basketball, his unusual combination of height, coordination and passing ability quickly became evident.

He eventually entered Zibo’s structured basketball system and later joined the Qingdao organization.

Yang developed into one of the leading young players in the Chinese Basketball Association, winning major recognition during his first professional seasons.

His performances for China at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup also increased international interest in his game.

By 2025, NBA scouts viewed him as one of the most intriguing international prospects in his draft class.

Yang Hansen’s Family at the 2025 NBA Draft

Yang Hansen’s parents travelled from China to the United States to support their son during the 2025 NBA Draft.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Yang with the 16th overall pick before his draft rights were immediately acquired by the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade.

The selection was considerably higher than many draft analysts had predicted and represented a landmark achievement for Chinese basketball.

For Yang’s parents, it was also the culmination of years of driving him to practices, finding coaches, allowing him to leave home for better basketball opportunities and supporting his professional ambitions.

The next day, Yang celebrated his 20th birthday as an NBA first-round draft pick.

Yang Hansen’s Life Away From His Parents in the United States

Moving to the NBA required Yang Hansen to adjust to living much farther away from his parents and familiar environment in China.

Language, food, travel and the demanding NBA schedule all presented new challenges.

This is where his girlfriend and the small support team surrounding him became particularly important.

Yang’s comments about Xiao Ai preparing food, communicating with other players’ families and helping him handle everyday situations show how his support system changed after he moved to Portland.

His parents remain an important part of his life, but his girlfriend has taken on many of the everyday responsibilities associated with helping him adapt to his new environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Yang Hansen’s Family

Who is Yang Hansen’s girlfriend?

Yang Hansen’s girlfriend is publicly referred to as Xiao Ai. Yang openly discussed her during a 2026 interview, explaining that she lives with him in the United States, helps manage everyday matters and encourages him to remain disciplined with his basketball training.

Is Yang Hansen married?

There has been no reliable public announcement confirming that Yang Hansen is married. Xiao Ai is publicly described as his girlfriend rather than his wife.

Does Yang Hansen have children?

No publicly confirmed children have been reported. As of now, Yang Hansen is not publicly known to be a father.

Who are Yang Hansen’s parents?

Yang Hansen’s parents are Yang Lin and Zhu Jing. They raised him in Zibo, Shandong, China.

Who is Yang Hansen’s father?

His father is Yang Lin, an electrician and amateur basketball player from Zibo. He introduced Hansen to basketball and played a major role in finding him opportunities to receive structured basketball training.

Who is Yang Hansen’s mother?

His mother is Zhu Jing. She supported Hansen throughout his development in China and travelled with her husband to the United States around the time of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Was Yang Hansen’s father a professional basketball player?

No. Yang Lin was an amateur basketball player rather than a professional player. Nevertheless, his knowledge of and enthusiasm for basketball strongly influenced his son.

Does Yang Hansen have a brother?

No brother has been reliably identified in major public profiles of Yang Hansen.

Does Yang Hansen have a sister?

No sister has been reliably documented either. It is therefore safest to describe Yang’s sibling status as publicly unknown rather than claiming that he is definitely an only child.

Where is Yang Hansen’s family from?

Yang Hansen was born and raised in Zibo, Shandong province, China, where his parents lived and where his earliest basketball development took place.

Did Yang Hansen’s parents attend the NBA Draft?

Yes. His parents travelled to the United States ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft to support their son as he pursued his NBA dream.