Atlanta Hawks player Thabo Sefolosha Tuesday blamed cops for the broken leg he suffered in a scuffle with police after the stabbing of former Knicks forward Chris Copeland on Wednesday.
“I will simply say that I am in great pain, have experienced a significant injury and that the injury was caused by the police,” the 6-foot-7 small forward said in a statement released Tuesday.
“This has been a difficult time for me and I truly appreciate the support I have received from everyone,” added Sefolosha who will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a fractured tibia he suffered in the aftermath of the April 8 stabbing outside 1 Oak.
Sefolosha said his lawyer had forbade him from discussing the specifics of the confrontation.
“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be able to join my teammates on the court during the playoffs,” he wrote. “I will be cheering for them.”
The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the altercation between Sefolosha and cops,which happened outside the Meatpacking District in the aftermath of the stabbing as gawkers, including the Hawks player, surrounded the crime scene.
