Hawks' Sefolosha suffers season-ending leg injuries during arrest

Only two weeks after returning from a calf strain that had sidelined him for 23 games, Thabo Sefolosha's season is over for a very different reason.

The Atlanta Hawks swingman sustained a fractured fibula and ligament damage to his right leg during an incident with New York City police on Wednesday morning, and will require season-ending surgery.

Sefolosha and Hawks teammate Pero Antic were both charged with obstruction and disorderly conduct Wednesday after they allegedly refused to clear the area while officers were trying to establish a crime scene in the aftermath of the Chris Copeland stabbing.

Sefolosha was also charged with resisting arrest. He and Antic released statements on Wednesday evening saying they will contest the charges.

Sefolosha, who signed a three-year, $12-million contract with the Hawks last summer, averaged 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and a steal in nearly 19 minutes per game off the bench.

While not much of an offensive threat, Sefolosha has established himself as one of the better wing defenders in the league, something the Hawks will be hard-pressed to replicate with a reserve. 

Sefolosha earned a place on the All-Defensive Second Team in 2010.