This is probably called the American Dream: Rookie Ariel Hukporti (22) has been playing in the NBA for the New York Knicks since this season. After just four games and still without a single point, the legendary basketball team from the Big Apple is doing everything right and giving the Stralsund-born center a million-dollar contract!
He is the eighth German in the NBA this season and is currently making a lot of headlines in the USA. Hukporti has already convinced the New York Knicks so much after just two weeks that, according to the American TV broadcaster ESPN, his employer wants to convert his rookie contract into a standard two-year contract.
Ariel Hukporti is still waiting for his first NBA points
Which: So far, Hukporti has only played four times for the Knicks and is averaging just 7.2 minutes per game. The 2.12 tall and 112 heavy center hasn’t hit a throw yet.
It can happen so quickly: Center Ariel Hukporti (22, left) played in the Bundesliga for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in April.Eibner/imago
The Knicks are still convinced by Hukporti, the first player in the NBA of Togolese descent. It is not yet known exactly how much his new employment contract is worth. However, it is clear: The German now earns at least 1,087,724 dollars per year (the equivalent of 997,914.92 euros). This is the minimum wage in the NBA for a player given a standard contract.
Minimum wage in the NBA is more than a million dollars
So far, Hukporti “only” has a two-way contract that allows him to play for the NBA franchise or in the G League for the Westchester Knicks farm team and guarantees him an annual salary of $578,577.
If the deal goes through, the German-Togolese will no longer be a restricted free agent after the current season but will be firmly tied to the Knicks. Hukporti was drafted in last place (position 58) by the Dallas Mavericks at the end of June and was immediately traded to New York by the Texans.
Last season, Hukporti, who was under contract with Bundesliga club MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg from 2016 to 2020 and returned to the club in the spring, played in Australia for Melbourne United. ■
