Published Oct. 6, 2026. Philadelphia 76ers center Ariel Hukporti tore his right Achilles tendon during the team’s preseason opener against the New York Knicks and will undergo surgery, the team announced Tuesday.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of Philadelphia’s 120–97 win Monday. Hukporti started against his former team and played five minutes before leaving the court.
Team confirms a torn Achilles
Reuters, citing the 76ers’ announcement, reported that the injury is a torn right Achilles tendon. Philadelphia said Hukporti would have surgery Tuesday and that additional updates would be provided when appropriate.
A torn Achilles ordinarily requires a lengthy recovery, but the team did not include a formal return timetable in the announcement. AskNovus is therefore not assigning a specific recovery date.
Impact on Philadelphia’s center depth
Hukporti, 24, signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia in July after spending his first two NBA seasons with the Knicks. He was competing for minutes behind Joel Embiid and had started the preseason opener while several regulars rested.
The injury removes one of Philadelphia’s conventional center options before the regular season. Any roster response remains to be determined; the club had not announced a replacement signing at publication time.
What is confirmed
- The injury is to Hukporti’s right Achilles tendon.
- It occurred during Monday’s preseason game against New York.
- The 76ers announced surgery for Tuesday.
- The team has not published a specific return date.
Follow AskNovus NBA and the broader Sports desk for verified injury and roster updates.
Sources
- Reuters, Oct. 6, 2026.
- Philadelphia 76ers, player signing background, July 2026.
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