Ariel Hukporti of the Knicks

admin February 28, 2025

0 2 1 minute read

Ariel Hukporti, a rookie center in New York, has a ripped left knee bend plate, expected to miss four to six weeks.

Knicks rookie center Ariel Hukporti can return to mid-April regular season end in time

Hukporti, 22, was injured in her first NBA game against the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night. The 7-foot player recorded eight points, two rebounds and a block in a 16-minute action.

If Hukporti is able to return at the end of the timeline Charania report, he will return in time to the end of the regular season in mid-April. The Knicks are currently 38-20, ranking third in the Eastern Conference.

Sources told ESPN that the left knee bending plate torn at Ariel Hukporti at the Knicks Center in New York is expected to miss four to six weeks. Hukporti was injured in her first game Wednesday night, scoring eight points, two rebounds and one block. pic.twitter.com/lqhuxvjx4l

– Shams Charania (@shamscharania) February 27, 2025

On the same day, the Dallas Mavericks selected Hawke Portley in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, whose draft pick was traded to New York in exchange for Melvin Akinka’s rights.

In addition, Hukporti signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on July 8. He made his NBA debut on October 22 in a 132-109 loss.

His deal was reportedly converted to a standard contract in November to allow New York to drive its salary cap. The Knicks have the lowest-level team choice in the 2025-26 campaign.

Mitchell Robinson has been upgraded to Friday’s game against the Grizzlies

In 25 games this season, Hukporti averaged 1.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 8.7 minutes of games while shooting 67.7% and 46.2% of the free throw line.

The German big man scored a season-high nine points, two rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes on the bench in New York’s 120-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons on December 7. He scored all four shots.