Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha released a statement Tuesday blaming his season-ending fibula fracture on the New York Police Department.
Sefolosha sustained the injury after being arrested along with teammate Pero Antic outside New York nightclub 1 Oak last week. Sefolosha and Antic were charged with obstructing governmental administration for refusing to clear the crime scene surrounding the stabbing of Pacers forward Chris Copeland.
In his statement, Sefolosha thanked his family, friends and the Hawks for their support, saying he is disappointed that he will be unable to play in the playoffs. He then said that while he can’t discuss details of the case, the police were responsible for his injury:
“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.”
Sefolosha was also charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Sefolosha was in a walking boot and on crutches when he addressed the media on Tuesday, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore.
In a video published earlier this week by TMZ, multiple officers appear to wrestle the man TMZ says is Sefolosha to the ground. An officer then brandishes a nightstick and appears to swipe toward the man on the ground.
The NBA and NBPA are investigating the incident.
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