ATLANTA — Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau all but ruled out Ariel Hukporti’s return this season, delivering a blow to hopes the promising rookie might bolster New York’s playoff depth.
“He’s a ways away,” Thibodeau said after Friday’s practice at Georgia Tech’s Zelnak Center.
The Knicks selected Hukporti with the 58th and final pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, subsequently trading Jericho Sims to the Milwaukee Bucks for veteran guard Delon Wright, a move designed specifically to carve out minutes for Hukporti as the backup center.
That plan unraveled on Feb. 26, when Hukporti tore the meniscus in his left knee against the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, the promising center could miss the remainder of the Knicks’ playoff push.
Fortunately, Mitchell Robinson has steadily regained his form after a prolonged recovery from a second surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left ankle, which sidelined him for 10 months. Robinson’s recent 14-point, 14-rebound performance, complemented by two blocks in Tuesday’s victory over the Sixers, offered reassurance.
“Mitch still isn’t where he will be,” Thibodeau noted. “Each week he’s gotten better, so it’s had a greater impact. As his time increases, the defense will improve, too. With Mitch, KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], and OG [Anunoby] across the front line, it’s hard for opponents to get the ball in the paint.”
Without Hukporti, the Knicks will rely heavily on Precious Achiuwa to step in whenever Towns or Robinson face foul trouble or need rest.
HART’S GOAL
Josh Hart has a clear goal for the final stretch of the regular season: he intends to play every remaining game.
“I always said the biggest thing is availability when it comes to being in the league. I want to play as many games as I can,” Hart emphasized. “I think I missed three. One, my kids were in the hospital, so I didn’t really have a choice. And then the other two just timing-wise. But I want to play. Last year I played 81; should have played 82. I was kind of in a mood for that one game, so I ended up missing it. Yeah, man, I wanted to play. It’s the first time in my career where I’m putting together high 70’s, 80 games. So that’s what I want to do.”
Hart currently ranks second in the league behind Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, averaging 37.6 minutes per game. He also trails only Mikal Bridges in total minutes played this season, making his emphasis on recovery crucial in these final weeks.
“I try to get a little bit more sleep,” Hart said. “This is the time of the year when that sucks because I’ve got kids and want to spend time with them. Beginning of the season, even if we get home at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., I’d be up at 7:30, 8 o’clock so I could see the kids. Now I might have to stay in bed a little bit longer and not see them when they go to school. I try to prioritize sleep a bit more, along with weight room work.”
HOW’S BRUNSON
And how did All-Star guard Jalen Brunson look in his first full practice since injuring his ankle?
“He looked good,” Hart said with a grin. “Got a lot of buckets, gave up a lot of buckets — so about normal.”
