Mitchell Robinson’s injury reminded us that the Knicks had another big on the roster. Ariel Hukporti was not a name fans were really familiar with until this incident. However, that’s not the 58th draft pick’s fault. He was just lost in Tom Thibodeau’s rotations after recovering from his meniscus tear. For the time being, however, he’s expected to start in Robinson’s place. Importantly, the 23-year-old has already had a few NBA starts after an overseas stint. It’s only the terms of his contract that have changed.

Ariel Hukporti’s contract breakdown

Ariel Washington Hukporti was born on 12 April 2002 in Germany to Togolese parents. After playing professionally in Germany, Lithuania, and Australia, he was selected by the Mavericks with the very last pick in the 2024 NBA draft. So that weighs on his contract situation.

The Mavs traded him to the Knicks the same day, and he’d sign a subsequent two-way contract with them. After his NBA debut, however, that deal turned into a standard contract in November 2024. He is on a two-year contract with a team option for the 2025-26 season. The contract is worth about $3 million.

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What is Ariel Hukporti’s salary?

Hukporti is expected to make about $1.9 million this season. He spent most of his time in the G-League since his standard contract. In his first career start in February 2025, he recorded 8 points, two rebounds, and one block. In this same game, he suffered a torn meniscus and was sidelined for more than a month.

The upgrade to a standard contract, joining the starting lineup this year, and potentially replacing Mitchell Robinson while he recovers from ankle surgery, indicates the NY side is betting on his potential. He’d have to put up an impressive performance to convert that team option into an extension at the end of the season.

A look at Ariel Hukporti’s college and professional career

After repping Germany at the U16 and U18 levels, Hukporti got his first professional start in 2018 with Riesen Ludwigsburg in the Basketball Champions League. By 2020, he went to Lithuania, where he signed with the Nevėžis Kėdainiai but saw no minutes.

The following year, the center signed for Melbourne United in Australia’s NBL, the same league Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony is an ambassador of. His ACL injury, though, stalled him.

Hukporti was ‘loaned’ back to his old team, Riesen Ludwigsburg, in 2024. After that, he entered the 2024 NBA draft, which brings us here.

The concern is that Ariel hasn’t played enough to show what he’s capable of. But if the Knicks have one thing going for them, it’s their deep rotation of bigs. Their faith in him, even when Karl-Anthony Towns could’ve easily gone to the five, proves there’s something in Ariel Hukporti that the Knicks can see.