Knicks' Tom Thibodeau Is Right, Ariel Hukporti Is ‘Terrific’

The New York Knicks have been a dominant force in NBA headlines for the majority of the offseason. Pulling off two blockbuster trades - for Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns - that bookended the summer will do that. Plenty of attention has been given to a notable departure as well, with Isaiah Hartenstein leaving for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hartenstein, while not Towns, was a valuable piece for the Knicks last season. 

He helped them dominate the glass at both ends of the floor, offered elite rim protection, and quality low-post defense which was especially valuable in their first-round series against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, and was a quality roll-man and dribble handoff option. A plus decision-maker for his size with exquisite touch, he was everything you want in a modern center, but Towns is something else - a true stretch-five (there are maybe five of these in the NBA total) who still offers many of the same defensive qualities Hartenstein did. It’s almost impossible to turn down one of the most prized commodities in the NBA like Towns, and the Knicks didn’t. 

These offseason moves have depleted the New York Knicks draft capital and depth (not that the latter ever meant a lot to head coach Tom Thibodeau), leaving them short in one area in particular: backup center. Mitchell Robinson would fill this role, but he’s out until January according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. That leaves Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa, and the 58th and final pick of the 2024 NBA Draft Ariel Hukporti. 

Hukporti signed a two-way contract with the Knicks and in only one preseason game, he might already be forcing the Knicks' hand on converting it sooner rather than later. In 16 minutes off the bench against the Washington Wizards, Hukporti finished with three steals, four rebounds, and seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. This performance drew praise from Thibodeau, calling Hukporti’s performance, “terrific."