Ariel Hukporti suffers season-ending Achilles tear in 76ers debut
Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti tore his right Achilles tendon in the preseason opener, requiring surgery and ending his season.
Ariel Hukporti suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in his Philadelphia 76ers preseason debut, ending his season before it began. The 24-year-old center underwent surgery on Tuesday after the non-contact injury occurred roughly five minutes into Monday night's game against the New York Knicks.
Hukporti pushed off his right leg to contest a Karl-Anthony Towns three-point attempt and immediately went down. He was helped off the court by 76ers medical staff and Towns, later leaving the arena in a walking boot and on crutches. This is the second Achilles injury of Hukporti's career, having previously suffered a season-ending left Achilles rupture while playing in Australia's NBL in 2022.
Team reaction and player quotes
Teammates expressed immediate concern and support for the injured center. Jalen Brunson visited Hukporti in the locker room after the game. "Definitely heartbreaking," Brunson said. "Sad to see. Obviously, we’ll pray for him."
Jaylen Brown highlighted Hukporti's presence off the court, calling him a joy to have on the team. Brown noted that Hukporti has been great in the locker room since joining the franchise.
Roster and salary cap implications
The injury creates a critical depth problem at center for Philadelphia. Hukporti signed a one-year, $3.4 million deal in free agency this summer and was expected to see a significant uptick in playing time behind Joel Embiid. With Adem Bona as the only other true center on the roster, and Bona currently sidelined with a left foot sprain, options are severely limited.
The Sixers are hard-capped at the league's first apron and currently sit $1.8 million below it. This financial restriction is a major obstacle. The team could apply for a disabled player exception for Hukporti, but it would not allow them to exceed the first apron. Consequently, they cannot simply sign another player to a minimum contract to fill the spot, as even veteran minimum deals can push them over the hard cap.
| Contract Type | Minimum Salary (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Player with 1 year experience | $2.1 million |
| Veteran with 10+ years experience | $3.8 million |
Potential paths forward
Philadelphia's front office now faces difficult decisions. One immediate path to creating flexibility would be waiving forward Jabari Walker, whose contract has only $250,000 guaranteed until January 10. That move would clear enough space to sign a veteran to a minimum deal.
Trade options are limited until December 15, when players signed this summer become eligible to be dealt. Until then, the Sixers may be forced to experiment with small-ball lineups, using players like Walker, Dean Wade, and Dominick Barlow at the center spot. Managing the workload of Joel Embiid, who has missed 150 regular-season games over the last three seasons, was already a key part of the team's championship planning. This injury may force them to lean on the former MVP more than intended during the regular season.
Context on Hukporti and the Sixers' situation
Hukporti averaged 9.2 minutes per game as a reserve for the champion New York Knicks last season before joining Philadelphia in the offseason. His loss is a major blow for a team that added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown this summer and holds championship aspirations. Available free agent centers include Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk, and Bismack Biyombo, with Olynyk considered the likely best option given his playing time last season.
The team's other center under contract, Tacko Fall, is on an Exhibit 10 deal but is currently sidelined with a left hip strain. The Sixers have three more preseason games to evaluate their options, beginning with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
