Atlanta Hawks forwards Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were arrested early Wednesday morning in New York City for disorderly conduct. According to the Daily News, the incident stemmed from the melee that lead to Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland being stabbed:
Sefolosha, 30, and Antic, 32, refused to move when police tried to set up a crime scene, the sources said. They were charged with obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct.
Atlanta is in New York to play the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
The news is sure to be an unwelcome distraction within the Hawks organization as the team prepares to enter the playoffs next week as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The surprising regular season comes after a tumultuous offseason which saw the franchise put up for sale and general manager Danny Ferry take a leave of absence following the revelation of racist comments being made during front office meetings.
It is unclear if Antic and Sefolosha will be available to play against the Nets. The Hawks were expected to rest some of their key players following Tuesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns.
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