The Trail Blazers were fined $100,000 and two assistant GMs suspended for contacting rookie center Yang Hansen before the 2025 NBA Draft.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The NBA has fined the Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 and suspended two assistant general managers for contacting rookie center Yang Hansen during the 2023-24 season, when he was ineligible for the draft, multiple reports said.
Assistant general managers Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva were suspended for an undisclosed period.
The Blazers selected Hansen with the 16th overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“When this was brought to our attention, the Portland Trail Blazers self reported to the NBA,” the team said in a statement, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. “The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accepts the league’s determination.”
Hansen is averaging 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game as a rookie. He has also appeared in 19 games for the Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, averaging 16.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
When the NBA fines a team, the money is split evenly between the league and the players’ union, and both donate their share to charity.