Ariel Hukporti, a 7-foot, 240-pound center for the New York Knicks, emphasizes his defensive skills and team-first mentality developed through mentorship from veterans like Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Following a dominant Summer League performance, Hukporti aims to make a significant impact despite a past injury setback. His proactive approach during recovery involved analyzing games to better support his team. With a strong foundation laid by former coach Tom Thibodeau, Hukporti expresses enthusiasm about continuing his development under new coach Mike Brown, whose strategies align with his defensive focus.
I was watching the vets-KAT, Mitchell Robinson-just what they're doing on the defensive end. I'm a defensive big, so I was just looking at what I can do to help the team.
He gave me a lot of tips. He gets offensive rebounds against four guys, and I'm like: how can I help the team like that?
When I was hurt, I was watching the game, scouting, analyzing, and just trying to find a way to help my team. I'm not a selfish guy-I put my team first always.
I feel like Thibs gave me great structure on how to be a pro. Mike Brown is a great guy, a great coach, and I'm excited to learn more and just get better.
Collection
[
|
...
]