By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The new-look Philadelphia 76ers include a fierce European rivalry turned partnership. An offseason addition, German center Ariel Hukporti has reunited with Turkish big Adem Bona. They had clashed during their teenage days. Now, they will compete for minutes behind Joel Embiid in the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season.
Their battle began in FIBA tournaments. Hukporti represented Germany at the FIBA U16 and U18 European Championships. Bona suited up for Turkiye. In 2018 and 2019, they went head-to-head. Hukporti won a group stage matchup in 2017. Bona exacted revenge with a group stage win in 2018, eventually securing bronze and silver medals across the two tournaments.
On Thursday, Hukporti recalled these intense international matchups during a media availability. “It was me, Franz, I think that’s it. And then he had Sengun and himself, obviously. And we were just battling all the time,” he mentioned. “We got some kind of rivalry going on.”
Now sharing a locker room, the 24-year-old center called the pairing ‘nothing but a blessing’.
The German import arrives fresh off a title run with the New York Knicks, bringing 92 games of league experience, including ten in last season’s postseason. He noticed an immediate parallel in team culture.
“It’s obviously a different team. We got obviously more superstars,” he stated. “The approach is actually quite the same. Championship mentality. Didn’t expect anything less.”
With Bona currently recovering from an offseason foot sprain, Hukporti will handle additional frontcourt duties early on.
The Sixers open their exhibition slate at Xfinity Mobile Arena against New York on Monday. Following three more preparation games, they will face the defending champions once again to open the 2026–27 Regular Season in Madison Square Garden on October 20.
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