Ariel Hukporti alarms 76ers as right Achilles injury sends him for tests

Philadelphia 76ers centre Ariel Hukporti left Monday’s preseason game after suffering a non-contact injury to his right leg less than five minutes into his debut with the team. The incident occurred while he was defending Karl-Anthony Towns, when Hukporti went down and immediately grabbed the back of his lower right leg, raising concern about damage to his Achilles.

Head coach Nick Nurse told reporters, via ESPN, that Hukporti is scheduled to undergo imaging on his right Achilles on Tuesday. There is no formal diagnosis yet, but the tone from the team suggested significant worry about the third-year big man, with players offering support in the locker room after the 76ers’ 120-97 win.

Key depth piece at centre faces uncertain outlook

Hukporti joined Philadelphia this offseason on a one-year deal with the goal of competing for the backup centre role behind Joel Embiid. He spent his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks, appearing in 54 regular season games last year and averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest. The 24-year-old German also saw action in 10 playoff games off the bench during New York’s championship run.

The preseason was shaping up as an important audition for Hukporti, especially with rookie big man Adem Bona dealing with a left foot sprain that has limited him this fall. With Bona slowed and Embiid firmly established as the starter, Hukporti had a clear opportunity to stake his claim to rotation minutes before the regular season.

Teammates were visibly shaken by the injury. Forward Jabari Walker, who has built a strong relationship with Hukporti, described the centre as "like my brother" and pointed to the effort and energy he has brought since arriving at training camp.

Cap constraints and internal options for the 76ers

If imaging confirms a torn Achilles, Hukporti’s 2026-27 campaign would likely end before it starts, forcing the 76ers to reassess their depth in the middle. Philadelphia does have an open two-way contract slot and could use it on a centre to bolster the position without adding a full cap hit to the standard roster.

Camp invitee Tacko Fall, currently on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, is one logical candidate for that two-way opening. However, he is dealing with a left hip strain sustained last week, adding another layer of uncertainty to the team’s frontcourt plans.

While the 76ers technically have an empty spot on their 15-man roster, they are pressed up against their first-apron hard cap. Unless they make a cost-cutting move, they will not be able to sign a fifteenth player to a prorated veteran minimum deal until December 4, limiting their flexibility to react on the standard market in the short term.

In the meantime, Nurse may turn to small-ball alignments in preseason action. Forwards Jabari Walker, Dominick Barlow and Dean Wade are more natural fits on the wing or at power forward, but could see minutes at the five as the coaching staff experiments with makeshift lineups while waiting for clarity on Hukporti’s status.