NBPA investigating NYPD’s tactics after Thabo Sefolosha’s season-ending leg injury

The Hawks lost guard Thabo Sefolosha for the season with a fractured tibia in his right leg, an injury he sustained during an altercation outside a New York City nightclub early Wednesday morning that also saw the stabbing of Pacers forward Chris Copeland. Sefolosha and Hawks teammate Pero Antic were arrested for alleged obstruction of a crime scene, but a video posted on TMZ shows several officers taking down Sefolosha.

The players’ union isn’t thrilled about it and announced Friday that they’re conducting their own investigation into the New York Police Department’s tactics. From ESPN.com’s Kevin Arnovitz:

“The players’ union is concerned about the circumstances of Thabo Sefolosha and Pero Antic’s arrest and is doing its own investigation of the situation,” NBPA spokeswoman Tara Greco said. “The union was fully engaged in supporting all three players in court and in the precinct this week, and will continue to stay engaged as each situation evolves.”

Both Antic and Sefolosha have said that they will contest the charges brought against them, maintaining that they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Hawks organization has so far supported both players. This is going to be an interesting situation to monitor going forward, and if the players’ union gets involved, that adds another wrinkle to it.