76ers’ Ariel Hukporti out for season after rupturing right Achilles tendon in preseason opener

Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti will miss the entire 2026-27 NBA season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon less than five minutes into the team’s first NBA preseason game against the New York Knicks on Monday, the team announced Tuesday.

Hukporti, who left the Knicks to sign a one-year, $3.4 million deal with the 76ers in free agency this summer, got the start in Philadelphia on Monday in place of Joel Embiid, who joined LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey among several other Sixers who didn’t suit up for the preseason opener. With the score tied at 10 and just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, Hukporti stepped out to guard former teammate Karl-Anthony Towns at the 3-point arc. As Jalen Brunson curled around a Towns screen, Hukporti dropped back toward the paint to cut off the passing lane.

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When Towns held onto the ball and rose up to shoot it, Hukporti planted on his right foot and tried to sprint out to contest the shot. He immediately stopped in his tracks, though, turning to look behind him as he reached for his right ankle and fell to the floor.

After the Knicks scored on the possession, Hukporti remained seated, holding onto his right heel. The Sixers called a timeout, as players and coaches from both teams circled around the fallen big man. Hukporti would need help to get to his feet; seemingly unable to put any weight on his right leg, he leaned on Towns and a member of the coaching staff to help him hop off the floor and back to the locker room. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game, which the Sixers won, 120-97.

“I just saw him for a little bit during the game and gave him a big hug,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said after Monday’s game, according to Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “He’s been a joy to coach in the short time he’s been here. Really a good dude. We’ll just hope for the best.”

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Hukporti left the arena on crutches and in a walking boot, leaving both his former and current teammates fearing the worst. Follow-up imaging on Tuesday confirmed those fears, ending the young center’s season before it ever really got started.

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/76ers-ariel-hukporti-out-for-season-after-rupturing-right-achilles-tendon-in-preseason-opener-144947423.html

Author : Dan Devine

Publish date : 2026-10-06 14:49:00

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