Basketball - Hukporti signs contract with New York Knicks
German basketball professional Ariel Hukporti is one step closer to the North American professional league NBA. The New York Knicks signed the native of Stralsund a so-called two-way contract, as confirmed by the club.
With this contract model, the 22-year-old center can also be used in the lower-tier G-League in accordance with his own development.
Hukporti returned from Australia to MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in the spring and played three games in the Bundesliga last season. He made his professional debut in Ludwigsburg in the 2018/19 season.
In the draft that preceded it, he was selected 58th by the Dallas Mavericks, before the Knicks acquired him. Teams secure the rights to draft prospects in succession, but they can also assign their positions or transfer rights as part of trade deals.
Hukporti hails from the coastal city of Stralsund in Germany, yet his basketball career now has him linked to New York, USA. Despite having played for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in the Bundesliga, his sights are now set on the NBA and the New York Knicks. In a unique contract arrangement, Hukporti can also participate in matches for the NBA's minor league, the G-League, as needed for his growth as a player. Remarkably, the Dallas Mavericks had initially selected him in the NBA draft, but subsequently, the New York Knicks obtained his rights for their team.
