Former Knick and current 76ers center Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during Philadelphia’s preseason opener on Monday night.
Hukporti, 24, was injured during the first quarter against the Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and an MRI on Tuesday confirmed the injury. The team said that he will undergo surgery.
The big man signed with the 76ers in the offseason to a one-year, $3.4 million contract after playing on the Knicks’ championship-winning 2025-26 team.
The connection that Hukporti still has with the Knicks was evident on Monday night when he was helped off the court by former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. Jalen Brunson called the injury “definitely heartbreaking.”
“When I came back in the locker room, I went to go check on him, ” Brunson said. “Sad to see. Obviously, we’ll pray for him.”
Knicks head coach Mike Brown also wished Hukporti well after the exhibition game — a 120-97 New York loss.
“We hope Ariel — whatever is wrong with him — he has a speedy recovery and he’s back on the floor,” Brown said. “You hate to see anybody go down with an injury, but especially somebody who is a caliber person who Ariel is.”
ESPN reported that the Sixers are eligible to apply for and receive a $1.7 million disabled player exception.
Per the report, Philly is only $1.8 million below the first apron and would not be able to bring in someone to replace Hukporti without waiving another player or making a trade.
