The draft also coincided with Yang's 20th birthday, making the night a double milestone.

Over the course of 24 days, the young center from Qingdao, Shandong province, traveled 27,600 kilometers across the United States, working out with 14 NBA teams — once again bringing the presence of a Chinese player to the world's most competitive basketball stage.

Several players from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) have made it to the NBA through the draft over the past years, with Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian each earning roles and achieving success on the international stage.