 Hukporti in April 2018 | |
| No. 55 – New York Knicks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center /Power Forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2002-04-12)12 April 2002 (age 22) Stralsund, Germany |
| Nationality | German / Togolese |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 246 lb (112 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2024: 2nd round, 58th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Dallas Mavericks |
| Playing career | 2018–present |
| Career history | |
| 2018–2020 | Riesen Ludwigsburg |
| 2020–2021 | Nevėžis Kėdainiai |
| 2021–2024 | Melbourne United |
| 2024 | Riesen Ludwigsburg |
| 2024–present | New York Knicks |
| 2024–2025 | →Westchester Knicks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Ariel Washington Hukporti (born 12 April 2002) is a German-Togolese professionalbasketball player for theNew York Knicks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA).
Hukporti was born inStralsund, Germany toTogolese parents and was raised by a single mother.[1] He grew up playingfootball as adefender. Hukporti stood 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) at age nine and started playing basketball when he was 11 years old, in part due to his height.[1][2] He began playing in the Jugend Basketball Bundesliga, the German U16 league, with USC Freiburg. After one season, he received offers from renowned clubs, includingBayern Munich andBrose Bamberg. He decided to continue his career withRiesen Ludwigsburg and its junior team, Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg.[2][3]
In December 2018, at theAdidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT)Valencia, Hukporti averaged 18 points, 15.2 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for U18 Porsche Ludwigsburg, while leading the event in blocks (1.8 per game) andindex rating (26.7). He helped his team to fourth place and was named to the all-tournament team.[4] In 2019, Hukporti was honored as Rookie of the Year and All-Star Game MVP in the Nachwuchs Basketball Bundesliga (NBBL), the German U19 league.[5] He played for U18 Porsche Ludwigsburg atANGTMunich in February 2020 but did not return to action after suffering a foot injury in his second game.[6] Hukporti was named NBBL MVP for the 2019–20 season after averaging 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg.[7]
On 12 December 2018, Hukporti made his professional debut forRiesen Ludwigsburg, scoring four points in one minute in an 88–76 loss toBanvit at theBasketball Champions League.[8] On 13 January 2019, he debuted in theBasketball Bundesliga (BBL) versusmedi Bayreuth.[9] At theNBA All-Star Weekend inChicago in February 2020, Hukporti was named MVP of theBasketball Without Borders camp.[10] On 11 June 2020, he scored a career-high 10 points along with three rebounds and two blocks in a 103–74 win overBrose Bamberg in the preliminary round of the2020 BBL Final Tournament.[11] In the 2019–20 season, Hukporti averaged three points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.[12]
On 3 July 2020, Hukporti signed withNevėžis Kėdainiai of theLithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[13]
On 28 July 2021, Hukporti signed as aNext Star withMelbourne United of the AustralianNational Basketball League (NBL).[14]
During the 2022 pre-season, Hukporti ruptured his achilles tendon and was ruled out for the entire2022–23 NBL season.[15]
On 31 March 2023, Hukporti recommitted to United for the2023–24 NBL season.[16]
On 1 April 2024, Hukporti signed withRiesen Ludwigsburg for the rest of the2023–24 Basketball Bundesliga season.[17]
On 27 June 2024, Hukporti was selected with the 58th overall pick by theDallas Mavericks in the2024 NBA draft, which was the draft's final pick.[18] On the same day, his draft rights were traded to theNew York Knicks in exchange for the rights ofMelvin Ajinça.[19] On 8 July 2024, he signed atwo-way contract with the Knicks.[20]
Hukporti made his NBA debut on 22 October 2024, in a 132–109 loss to theBoston Celtics[21] and on 4 November, he signed a standard contract with the Knicks.[22][23] Throughout his rookie season, he has beenassigned several times to theWestchester Knicks.[24] Hukporti made his first career start on 26 February 2025 against thePhiladelphia 76ers, recording 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block. However, Hukporti suffered atorn meniscus in the game, and was ruled out for 4-6 weeks.[25]
Hukporti representedGermany at the2017 FIBA U16 European Championship inPodgorica. He averaged 5.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for the 13th-place team.[26] In April 2018, he won a gold medal with Germany at theAlbert Schweitzer Tournament.[2] Later that year, at theFIBA U16 European Championship inNovi Sad, Hukporti averaged 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, leading his team to ninth place.[27] He averaged 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks at the2019 FIBA U18 European Championship inVolos as his team finished in 11th place.[28]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | New York | 25 | 1 | 8.7 | .677 | – | .462 | 2.0 | .4 | .0 | .6 | 1.9 |
| Career | 25 | 1 | 8.7 | .677 | – | .462 | 2.0 | .4 | .0 | .6 | 1.9 | |