Next stop NBA: Why Melbourne dunking machine is being scouted to stop Wembanyama
By Roy Ward
Ariel Hukporti is being hunted by NBA scouts to shut down the likes of seven-foot-five French phenom Victor Wembanyama, but that intimidating task should not be as difficult as the multi-faceted role he performs week in, week out, with Melbourne United in the NBL.
“It’s almost going to be easier for him there,” United teammate and NBA championship winner Matthew Dellavedova said of Hukporti, the NBL Next star from Germany.
Easier in the NBA? Really?
Melbourne United’s Ariel Hukporti is one of the most dangerous dunkers in the NBL.
The 21-year-old, 213-centimetre centre has been in Melbourne for the past three seasons.He has overcome a ruptured achilles in late 2022 and matured into one of the league’s elite defensive players and most dangerous dunkers.
He fills a difficult role for United as their rim protector and defensive voice while making sure his screens and passes keep the likes of Delly, Chris Goulding and Ian Clark firing at the offensive end ahead of their NBL semi-finals series which begins on Thursday night.
But surely guarding NBA giants like Joel Embiid, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic won’t be easier than that?
Ariel Hukporti dunks for Melbourne United.Credit: Getty Images
What Dellavedova means is his German mate will thrive at the next level where the key is less congested and teams make good use of athletic, agile big men.
“He’s been unbelievable with his defensive communication, defending the pick and roll and his screening and rolling [to the basket] have been amazing - those are skills that are going to help him in the NBA,” Dellavedova said.
“He’s been asking good questions about what it will take for him to be successful at the NBA level.
“It’s almost going to be easier for him as there will be more space on the floor and what teams will ask of him are his strongest skills.”
United officials said at least 12 NBA clubs have attended games and training this season to scout Hukporti while several others have been following his progress from afar.
“I’ve had that since I was 15 or 16 - it’s nothing new to me to have people coming in and watching me practising,” Hukporti said.
“I think the biggest thing when I get over to the States will be to prove myself offensively, show what I can do as, right now, I’m just showing everybody what I can do defensively because we have so much talent offensively.”
Hukporti admits he thought his time in the NBL was only going to be for the 2021-2022 season before leaving for the NBA.
“I thought I’d be one and done,” Hukporti said with a laugh.
“Then my agent told me I should stay. I could have gone somewhere else. Alba Berlin, Bayern Munich, Monaco - to a EuroLeague team. I even had an offer from G-League Ignite [NBA’s development team] but I stayed because of how they treat players over here. It’s a nice environment to get better in, not just skill-wise but basketball IQ as well.”
United’s plan was for Hukporti to start at centre last season but he ruptured his achilles on the eve of the season, putting his NBA dreams into jeopardy.
But it was his Melbourne United teammates and physios, especially Jack White, who had recovered from the same injury, and Jo Lual Acuil jnr, who helped pull him through.
“I wasn’t thinking the NBA would be gone, I was just thinking it will have to wait another year,” Hukporti said.
“Of course I was sad. Especially after surgery, I was sitting around feeling pretty useless but soon I was talking to Jack White and Jo and they helped pump me up.
“Jo be looking mean but he’s not. He was playing in China but said call me anytime. He said it’s not the end of the world, you’re going to get to the NBA and this injury can’t hold you back. He’s been helping me since my first year here.”
Hukporti is projected to be a second-round pick in the draft which will be held in the US in late June.
United coach Dean Vickerman said earlier this season that NBA teams are looking for centres to develop into “Wemby stoppers” to combat Wembenyama and Hukporti was that type of player.
“I’ve never played against a guy who is 7′5 [226cm] I don’t know what to do,” Hukporti said.
“You probably don’t want him to touch the ball but as soon as he gets the ball in the paint [it’s tough]. I feel like I can have some impact but he’s a pretty special guy. I have to see some video, see what his weaknesses are. He’s got to have a weakness.”
Dellavedova will miss throwing alley-oop passes to Hukporti but he’s convinced he can have a long NBA career, even if he isn’t picked in the draft.
“You can tell him things and he will do them and that will endear him to not only coaches but star players,” Dellavedova said.
“They will ask him to set the pick and roll, he will ask them do you want the screen on this angle or that angle and that builds chemistry.
“That’s one of the things I said to him, if you do that over there, that’s going to get you on the floor as you make life easier for the star players and help the team win.
“That’s why I think he’s really going to have a long NBA career and it really doesn’t matter when he gets drafted. It’s more than just about getting in a good situation.”
Melbourne United opens their best of three semi-final series against the Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena on Thursday at 7.30pm AEDT.