The New York Knicks might’ve snagged a gem at the end of the second round in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Knicks’ No. 58 overall pick Ariel Hukporti is a traditional center with an impeccable feel for interior scoring based on the eye test. Hukporti shows an uncanny ability to utilize footwork to get to his spots in the half-court.
Knicks: Ariel Hukporti’s fundamentals could go a long way on the team
Many of the NBA’s best players of all-time reached that air due to impeccable footwork. Whether it was Kobe Bryant or Hakeem Olajuwon, the most graceful movers on the basketball floor cited footwork as one of the most important fundamentals for any player to master in their career.
The German-Togolese big man has a natural knack for it, and that is rare to come by in the league, regardless of position. Further, Hukporti demands the ball in the post and moves with sure intent. He is able to use his 7-foot, 246-pound frame to impose himself as he backs down other big men and can rise up for running hooks and set shots without eating time off of the shot clock or stagnating his teammates’ motion in coordinated sets.
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Hukporti’s strengths and weaknesses from international and Summer League play
Hukporti also shows an ability to hit turn-around fadeaways, off of his back shoulder and off of one leg as well, which proves his nimbleness. His game may be an art form that is dying in the NBA, but he has the tools to be a valued contributor in the league despite being a second-rounder.
In his 2024 Summer League debut, the young Knicks five man set screens well, made the right reads when defenses collapsed on his rim runs, showed a feathery touch when finishing in traffic, and exhibited solid basketball IQ. The biggest concerns with his game could be his ability to defend smaller guards and forwards on the wing off of switches in the pick-and-roll, and his agility on the glass and contesting shots at the rim.
While those intangibles can be worked on, those knocks, particularly his quickness in getting off the floor and maximizing his second jump could be factors that work against him with Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau initially.
All things considered, with his size, gifts, and mentorship from fellow countryman and former Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, the 22-year-old could carve out a regular spot in the Knicks’ rotation in time, especially if the front office makes trades in the frontcourt prior to the start of next season.
