Hawks player says NYPD caused his season-ending injury

NBA player Thabo Sefolosha, 30, of the Atlanta Hawks is seen escorted out of the 10th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan, New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

Police guard the scene near the 1 Oak nightclub in New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

Blood is seen on the sidewalk near the 1 Oak nightclub in New York on April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

The 1 Oak nightclub is seen in New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

Blood is smeared on a car near the 1 Oak nightclub in New York on April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

NBA player Pero Antic, 33, of the Atlanta Hawks is seen escorted out of 10th Precinct of the New York Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan, New York April 8, 2015. NBA player Chris Copeland of the Indiana Pacers and his wife were stabbed during a dispute outside a New York City nightclub early on Wednesday and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police and media reports. Two Atlanta Hawks players were taken into custody for interfering with the arrest and trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene. Police identified them as Pero Antic, 33, and Thabo Sefolosha, 30, both of Atlanta. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

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By JILL MARTIN CNN

April 15, 2015 - 10:58 am

NBA player Thabo Sefolosha says police caused his season-ending leg injury when he was arrested last week after leaving a nightclub in New York.

In a statement Tuesday, the guard/forward for the Atlanta Hawks described his injury as “significant,” and said it “was caused by the police.”

Sefolosha suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage when he and teammate Pero Antic were arrested near the scene of the stabbing of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and two other women early April 8. Police said Sefolosha and Antic were not involved in the stabbing incident, but they were charged with misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration.

TMZ Sports released video last week that shows a group of police officers arresting the 6-foot-7 Sefolosha and taking him to the ground. It also shows an officer within that group getting out a baton and extending it near him, but what may have caused the injury is not clear in the video. Sefolosha appears to be limping as he is led away by officers.

New York Police Department Sgt. Daniel Doody said Wednesday that the matter is being reviewed by the Internal Affairs Bureau and would not comment further. Internal Affairs had no comment.

Sefolosha did not specify his injury in his statement Tuesday, but the Hawks said last week that he has a fractured fibula and ligament damage, will undergo surgery and will miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs, which begin this weekend. The Hawks enter as the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

Sefolosha, who turns 31 in May, is in his ninth NBA season and his first with the Hawks. He averaged 5.3 points per game this season.

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be able to join my teammates on the court during the playoffs and apologize to them for any distraction this incident has caused,” Sefolosha said in his statement. “I will be cheering for them every step of the way and will be diligent in my rehabilitation.

“On advice of counsel, I hope you can appreciate that I cannot discuss the facts of the case. Those questions will be answered by my attorney in a court of law. I will simply say that I am in great pain, have experienced a significant injury and that the injury was caused by the police.”

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said in a statement last week, “This is a very difficult situation for Thabo and our thoughts and support will be with him during his recovery. We know that his approach and dedication will serve him well in his rehabilitation. Our team remains focused and will be prepared as we head into the postseason.”

Antic, a 31-year-old, 6-foot-11 center/forward, missed the April 8 game against the Brooklyn Nets, but has played since then.

In a joint statement last week, Sefolosha and Antic said they will contest the charges.

According to the Pacers, Copeland underwent surgery on his abdomen and left elbow for stab wounds. He was released from the hospital two days after the incident, according to Bleacher Report.

The Pacers, with one regular-season game left, are trying to secure the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. If they do, their first-round opponent would be Atlanta.