Sixers were ‘sad to see’ Ariel Hukporti’s Achilles injury in preseason opener: ‘Much love to Ariel’
Head coach Nick Nurse said Hukporti, who is vying for the Sixers’ backup center role, would receive more imaging on his right Achilles on Tuesday.
Ariel Hukporti made a lot of friends during his time with the Knicks and in his short time with the 76ers.
So when Hukporti went to the floor with a noncontact injury in the first quarter of the Sixers’ 120-97 preseason victory over the Knicks, members of both teams came onto the floor to check on the 24-year-old center.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns was among those helping Hukporti off the floor and into the locker room. While the Sixers didn’t have an official update on Hukporti’s injury, coach Nick Nurse said Hukporti would receive more imaging Tuesday and that imaging would focus on a right Achilles injury Hukporti suffered.
» READ MORE: Jaylen Brown scores 22 points, Ariel Hukporti injured in Sixers’ preseason win vs. Knicks
“I just saw him for a little bit during the game. Gave him a big hug,” Nurse said. “He’s been a joy to coach in the short time he’s been here. Really a good dude. So, we’ll just hope for the best.”
But it was clear from the reaction of players afterward that while the Sixers were hoping for the best, they were prepared for the worst: an Achilles injury that could cost Hukporti his season before it begins. Hukporti signed a one-year deal with the Sixers and was vying for minutes backing up Joel Embiid after spending the last two seasons with the Knicks.
Among those that the injury most visibly affected was forward Jabari Walker, whose locker is next to Hukporti’s.
“Man, you know, I said some of these [guys] are my brothers, so that hits especially hard for me,” Walker said. “Because I’ve seen the work that he puts in. He just came in with energy and a great, great locker room guy. Man, it’s — damn, that messed me up, honestly. Yeah, that messed me up. That’s tough.”
In Hukporti’s short Sixers tenure, his teammates and Nurse enjoyed his positive attitude and outgoing personality. At one point during the game, Hukporti came back out to the Sixers bench in a sweatsuit with crutches during a timeout. He greeted teammates and coaches who came over to embrace him and wish him well.
“I met him early on, and he was just one of the guys right away that was just super cool, outgoing,” Walker said. “If you know him, you know he’s just, he’s going to talk to you. He’s lively, same version every day. So it’s a deeper connection when you already know somebody on that level. It’s more investment. So when I heard that news, it’s tough. Much love to Ariel.”
Before the game, Knicks coach Mike Brown said the German native Hukporti was his “brother from Germany,” since Brown lived there for part of his teenage years.
“You got a special person in Ariel,” Brown said.
Guard VJ Edgecombe said one of his primary concerns was for Hukporti’s mental health, if his injury turns out to be season ending.
“I’m just praying,” Edgecombe said. “... Obviously injuries can play a big part in mental health, and that’s the most important thing.
“Him just making sure he’s happy and in a peaceful place with his spirit and his body, so I just hope all the best, man. It’s sad to see, especially first game of the year. I hope he’ll be well.”
Hukporti’s injury will shake up the Sixers rotation backing up Embiid. Hukporti and Adem Bona, who has missed most of training camp recovering from a foot sprain, were the primary competitors for those minutes. But given Embiid is likely to miss at least some games, even if only for maintenance, there may have been room for both Hukporti and Bona to find time.
There is already a strong focus on Embiid staying healthy throughout the season, but with one of his backups potentially out, that urgency increases to make sure he is healthy. In the interim, the Sixers hope for a glimmer of good news, even if it didn’t sound like they were expecting any.
“Hukporti’s such a great guy. Just such a great communicator. I hope it’s nothing too severe,” Jaylen Brown said. “... Huk has been a joy to have.”
