The Philadelphia 76ers suffered their first injury blow of the 2026-27 season when they lost big man Ariel Hukporti to a non-contact injury early in Monday's preseason win over the New York Knicks. Coach Nick Nurse stated that it was a right Achilles injury and he would receive an MRI on Tuesday, but it certainly didn't look good in the moment as his teammates expressed a lot of support.
The MRI revealed that Hukporti did suffer a right Achilles rupture, which will hold him out for the rest of the season. It's a big blow to the Sixers who brought in Hukporti after two seasons with the New York knicks in an effort to bolster the backup center spot behind Joel Embiid. It's also a big blow to a hard-working young man who has endeared himself to his
teammates with how he's carried himself in camp.
Philadelphia 76ers 7-footer Ariel Hukporti has sustained a season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ES2qRHK973
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 6, 2026
The Sixers will now look to third-year man Adem Bona, Jabari Walker, and Dominick Barlow to hold down the big man spots for the bench unit.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers big man Ariel Hukporti ruptured Achilles in preseason win
