Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha On NYPD: My Injury 'Was Caused By The Police'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha will miss the postseason because of a fractured right fibula and ligament damage suffered when he and teammate Pero Antic were arrested last week in New York City.
Sefolosha's attorney, Alex Spiro, said the Swiss player was injured during the arrest, which followed the stabbings of Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland, his girlfriend and another woman on the street near the popular Chelsea nightclub 1 OAK.
"I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to my family and friends, the Hawks organization and my teammates," Sefolosha said in a statement on Tuesday. "This has been a difficult time for me and I truly appreciate the support I have received from everyone.
"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. I will be cheering for them every step of the way and will be diligent in my rehabilitation."
The Hawks said Sefolosha's injuries were disclosed in examinations that included an X-ray at Barclays Center last Wednesday and an MRI in Atlanta last Thursday.
In 52 games, including seven starts, the 6-foot-7 Sefolosha has averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. He is especially valuable in head coach Mike Budenholzer's system for his defense and size on the perimeter.
"On advice of counsel, I hope you can appreciate that I cannot discuss the facts of the case," Sefolosha said. "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."
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