Ariel Hukporti’s season is over after suffering torn Achilles in Sixers’ preseason opener

Ariel Hukporti is out for the 2026-27 season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon during Monday’s preseason game against the New York Knicks, the 76ers announced Tuesday afternoon.

The reserve center underwent successful surgery later Tuesday, the team said. The injury occurred during the opening minutes of Monday’s game at Xfinity Mobile Arena. On a defensive possession, Hukporti went down near the Knicks’ bench and looked stunned while grabbing at his lower leg/foot area before being helped off the floor.

The 24-year-old’s state naturally concerned both teams, as Hukporti spent his first two NBA seasons with New York before signing with the Sixers as a free agent in the summer.

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Later in Monday’s game, Hukporti briefly emerged from the Sixers’ locker room wearing street clothes and received hugs and well wishes from teammates and staff from the bench. Coach Nick Nurse said after the game that Hukporti would receive imaging on his Achilles Tuesday.

Though Nurse and multiple teammates said they were hoping for the best for Hukporti, they also were clearly preparing for news of the worst-case scenario. The collective sadness illustrated the early impression Hukporti had made on his new team with his play style and engaging personality.

“That hits especially hard for me, because I’ve seen the work that he puts in,” said reserve Jabari Walker, whose locker is next to Hukporti’s. “He just came in with energy [is] and a great, great locker room guy. Man, it’s — damn, that messed me up, honestly. Yeah, that messed me up. That’s tough.”

Hukporti’s injury is a blow to the Sixers’ backup center situation, a particularly important rotation role on this team. That player not only receives the minutes behind former MVP Joel Embiid, but is in line for at least spot starts when Embiid inevitably misses games to manage his health. Adem Bona, who had held that job for most of last season, has been sidelined during the past week-plus with a foot sprain sustained while playing for the Turkish national team during the offseason.

That gave Hukporti a big opportunity to start Monday in place of the resting Embiid. Nurse had praised Hukporti for being “athletic, long, [and playing] really hard” during training camp. Hukporti said following a practice last week that he hoped to showcase more of his offensive game as a Sixer, and that going up against Embiid in practice was making him a better defender.

“Whoever gets in, gets in. Get the job done,” Hukporti said of competing for playing time last week. “Especially in the playoffs, we need everybody. We need all players.”

Knicks coach Mike Brown also commended Hukporti in his pregame news conference Monday, saying the Sixers “got a special person.” With the Knicks, Hukporti had averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.1 minutes in 79 career games as the third-team center behind All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and sound backup Mitchell Robinson.

“He’s going to work his tail off,” Brown said of Hukporti. “He’s athletic. He’s quick. He’s strong. He’s relentless. … I know that he can do more than probably what he showed [with the Knicks], and to be able to come in this environment knowing he has a chance to fight for some true backup minutes … I’m happy for him.

“Everybody will be pleasantly surprised [with] what he brings to the table every time he steps on the floor.”

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Once Hukporti went down Monday, the Sixers’ remaining center options all were undersized. Walker initially stepped in and finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Dean Wade also spent a few first-half minutes at the position. Dominick Barlow, who missed Monday’s game with a back issue, also is a future small-ball possibility at the position.

Though the Sixers could be awarded a $1.7 million Disabled Player Exception for Hukporti’s injury — and have an open roster spot — they cannot sign another player because they are hard-capped at the first apron, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. They do have one two-way contract slot still available. Nurse said last week that the 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall was among those under consideration for that deal when training camp opened, but he sustained a hip strain during last Wednesday’s practice and is scheduled to be reevaluated in about a week.