76ers center Ariel Hukporti out for season with torn Achilles tendon
In short
Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon in Monday night's preseason game against the New York Knicks, the team said. The 24-year-old, who signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in July, was hurt in the first quarter and will have surgery. Newsweek, citing ESPN's Shams Charania, reported he will miss the entire 2026-27 season.
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Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon in Monday night's preseason game against the New York Knicks, the team said Tuesday. Hukporti was injured in the first quarter, going down and grabbing at his right leg after what AP described as a non-contact injury before leaving the game. The team said he would undergo surgery later Tuesday. [ 1 ]
Newsweek reported, citing ESPN's Shams Charania, that Hukporti ruptured his right Achilles and will be out for the entirety of the 2026-27 season. Newsweek said the 7-foot center fell while defending and was in noticeable pain before being helped off the court by former Knicks teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. [ 3 ]
Hukporti signed a $3.4 million, one-year free agent deal with Philadelphia in July to add frontcourt depth behind two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid and Adem Bona, AP reported. He averaged 2.2 points in 54 games last season for the Knicks, who AP described as the reigning NBA champions; Newsweek said he averaged 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds there and won his first NBA championship with New York. Newsweek reported he has averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 79 games over two NBA seasons. [ 1 , 3 ]
AP reported that Hukporti, 24 and from Germany, was the final pick of the 2024 draft by Dallas and had his rights traded that night to the Knicks. Reuters reported the injury as the Sixers losing their backup center to a torn Achilles. Newsweek said it remains to be seen whether Philadelphia adds a new center with Hukporti out for the year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The injury removes a frontcourt backup the 76ers signed in July to play behind Joel Embiid and Adem Bona, leaving the team short at center before the season starts. It also ends the 2026-27 campaign for a 24-year-old who won a championship with the Knicks last season.
Key facts
- 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon in Monday night's preseason game against the New York Knicks, the team said. [ 1 ]
- The injury occurred in the first quarter and was non-contact, according to AP. [ 1 ]
- The team said Hukporti would undergo surgery on Tuesday. [ 1 ]
- Hukporti, 24, signed a $3.4 million one-year deal with Philadelphia in July after playing last season for the Knicks. [ 1 ]
- He averaged 2.2 points in 54 games for New York last season. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Newsweek, citing ESPN's Shams Charania, reported Hukporti ruptured his right Achilles and will miss the entire 2026-27 season. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the 76ers will add another center to replace Hukporti. Newsweek said it remains to be seen if Philadelphia adds a center, and no signing or decision has been reported.
- That Karl-Anthony Towns helped Hukporti off the court. Reported only by Newsweek; AP says Hukporti left the game after going down grabbing his right leg.
- Precise timing of the injury within the game and the date of the surgery. Documents give only "first quarter" and that surgery was scheduled later Tuesday; Reuters carried only a headline summary.
- Hukporti will undergo surgery, the team said. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- AP reported that the 76ers said Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending right Achilles tear and would have surgery later in the day. [ 1 ]
- Reuters reported that the Sixers had lost backup center Ariel Hukporti to a torn Achilles. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek, citing ESPN's Shams Charania, reported Hukporti would miss the entirety of the 2026-27 season. [ 3 ]