With Karl-Anthony Towns out nursing a knee injury, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau started Jericho Sims at the five but quickly turned to Ariel Hukporti, the 58th and final pick in the 2024 NBA Draft who got his most extensive game action as a rookie in Friday’s victory over the Nets.
Hukporti played a season-high 30 minutes and finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks, and even though he turned the ball over three times and was out of position on a handful of plays, it’s clear why the organization felt they got a steal picking the 7-foot German-Togolese center with the last pick on draft night.
“You guys saw just a glimpse of what he can do,” Josh Hart said after Hukporti’s performance on Saturday. “He’s gonna have to build on that, but we’re excited about what he is, and he’s gonna be big for us.”
Hukporti nearly played more minutes against the Nets on Friday than he did in his five combined previous regular-season appearances.
In his first extended run of his rookie year, the backup big man played the entire second and fourth quarters and secured the game-sealing rebound after Mikal Bridges’ block on Dennis Schroder saved the day in a 124-122 Knicks victory.
“I was waiting for the opportunity for a long time,” Hukporti said after the game. “I’ve been working for that opportunity my whole life, so I didn’t take that opportunity for granted.”
The Knicks were able to scout their rookie center differently on Friday with Towns out due to a knee injury.
For the first time, head coach Tom Thibodeau threw Hukporti into the fire in a meaningful game — and the rookie big man delivered.
Hukporti’s four blocks were more than any Knicks player has recorded in a game this season, and they matched the number of rejections Sims has tallied all year. Three of those blocks came in the first half, and two came on the same Nets possession two minutes into the second quarter.
“He was huge. His energy was amazing,” Hart said of Hukporti. “He was a presence on screens, protecting the rim, rebounding the ball, deflections, running the court, doing those kinds of things.”
Both Hukporti and Thibodeau, though, were quick to note mistakes were made that nearly cost the Knicks a tight ball game. The rookie said he didn’t have any nerves at the start of the game, but his first go-round in crunch time felt a little bit different.
“At the end, a little bit [of nerves], but I think that’s normal as a rook,” he said. “I’ve played pro since I was 15 years old, so at the start I wasn’t nervous at all, but just when it comes to a close game. I’ve still gotta work on a lot of things. I learned a lot today. I learned from my mistakes and just keep going.”
Hukporti didn’t close out on Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, a floor-spacing small-ball five for the night who made an open three promptly followed by a Thibodeau timeout.
On the Knicks’ next offensive possession, his pass to a cutting Bridges was tipped away and led to a Nets transition basket.
“I thought the third quarter was pretty good, and then going into the fourth, we had some rough minutes there at the start of the 4th,” Thibodeau said. “So we’ve gotta take a look at that, and that’s some stuff we can clean up, and I think we can read the ball a little bit better.”
Bridges said it was good for Hukporti to get a chance to play through his mistakes on Friday.
“It’s tough, especially as a rookie, in a big game like this, playing through mistakes, and owning up to them and being ready for the next one,” he said. “We had to tell him, ‘You’re good.’ He was so wanting to tell us he wanted to be better, and we know, and we trust him. He’s been great.”
Hukporti said he’s taking to heart some of the advice the veterans in the locker room have given him as he attempts to carve a role in Thibodeau’s rotation. On a team dealing with injuries to Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Precious Achiuwa (hamstring), the Knicks could certainly use the frontcourt help.
“[The vets have told me] Wait for your opportunity. It’s gonna come,” he said. “Just keep working, always listen, even the little details, everything matters. Pay attention to everything.”
