New York Knicks rookie center Ariel Hukporti exited the game against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a sprained left knee on February 26, 2025.
Highlights
- Ariel Hukporti has to exit the game after a sprained left knee in his first NBA career start on February 26, 2025.
- Hukporti was raised by his single mother, Marcele Hukporti, after being born in Stralsund, Germany.
- Ariel Hukporti’s parents migrated to Germany from Togolese before he was born.
Ariel Hukporti was making the first starting five appearance of his NBA career, stepping in at center for Karl-Anthony Towns, who was already ruled out due to a knee injury.
In 16 minutes, the rookie scored eight points while grabbing two rebounds and delivering one block.
However, after that, he suffered a sprained left knee and missed most of the second half, as per the information provided by the team.
Though Ariel Hukporti played briefly, his contribution was crucial enough for the team to win 110-105 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hukporti running the floor hard after a effectively defending 2 in drop and helps to make sure Drummond can't contest OGs dunk 🫡
— ShwinnyPooh, Hukporti island resident (@shwinnypooh) February 27, 2025
Get healthy soon, Ariel 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/ENzeSEBQhd
Furthermore, his teammates praised his effort in the win. In the post-game interview, Jalen Brunson mentioned,
I’m proud of the way he comes into the game and impacts the game and what he does. He’s retained a lot in a very short amount of time
Jalen Brunson
On June 27, 2024, the Dallas Mavericks selected Hukporti as the 58th overall pick, the final pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
On the same day, his draft rights were traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for the rights of Melvin Ajinca.
Furthermore, on July 8, 2024, he signed a two-way contract with the Kinks and made his NBA debut on October 22, 2024, playing against the Boston Celtics.
Ariel Hukporti Was Raised Primarily By His Mother, Marcele, A German Immigrant Of Togolese Descent
Ariel Washington Hukporti was born on April 12, 2002, in Starlsund, Germany, to Togolese parents and was primarily raised by a single mother.
His mother, Marcele Hukporti, has been a crucial person in his upbringing, who taught him to fight for his dreams.
In his Interview with Heraldsun, Ariel Hukporti mentioned,
My mum always pushed me, doesn’t matter what I did, she always said ‘do it. She would always support me no matter what.
Ariel Hukporti
Moreover, there is not much information about his familial details beyond that his parents are Togolese and immigrated to Germany before Ariel was born.
Moreover, 22-year-old Ariel Hukporti is more focused on his career and rarely posts on his social media platforms.
On November 24, 2024, Hukporti posted a picture of his mother and his other photos.
The NBA player also expresses his appreciation for his mother in interviews, acknowledging the lessons she’s taught him. He mentions,
She is always on my side. She always said ‘give your best’ — ‘if you want to do it, just do it. If you don’t want a regular job, then you better fight for it’
Ariel Hukporti
When Ariel Hukporti was young, he played almost all sports, including soccer, table tennis, and basketball.
Initially, he played soccer, but switched to basketball at age 11 due to his height. By the time he was 9, Hukporti had already reached a height of 1.80m.
Moreover, his mother always supported him throughout his transitions and decision-making phases.
Till 2021, Ariel Hukporti played in basketball tournaments based in Germany. However, when he was 19, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, after signing as a Next Star with Melbourne United.
During his three-year stay in Melbourne, teammates helped Ariel assimilate into the new surroundings. Talking to Herald Sun in 2021, Ariel Hukporti states,
I’m used to being away from family, but the team has helped me forget about being so far away. Nobody really helped me (at other teams) like they have at United.
Ariel Hukporti
On the other hand, there is not much information about his father, and the player barely mentions the topic in his interviews and on social media.
Additional Information
- As of Sportrac, Ariel Hukporti signed a two-year, $5,745,331 contract with the New York Knicks. He is projected to be the 337th best-paid NBA player in the coming season.
- Hukporti represented Germany at the 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship in Podgorica.
