Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland is in the intensive care unit of a New York City hospital after undergoing surgery for a stab wound, according to Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star.
Copeland was stabbed early Wednesday outside a Manhattan nightclub, police confirmed. Buckner also reported late Wednesday that a source said the knife punctured the 31-year-old forward's diaphragm.
The Atlanta Hawks' Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were arrested in the aftermath of the incident for trying to prevent police from setting up a crime scene.
The altercation took place outside 1 OAK Club in the Manhattan neighborhood of Chelsea.
Buckner reported that Copeland did not initiate anything with the assailant and that the NBA player's ex-fiancée, Katrine Saltara, sustained an injury in the incident but was released from hospital Wednesday.
ESPN has more on what allegedly occurred:
A source said Copeland and Katrine Saltara were having a conversation outside the club when they were approached by a stranger. According to the source, Copeland told the person he had to go, and he took it the wrong way, then pulled out his knife and stabbed the Pacers forward in the stomach. Saltara then jumped on the attacker's back and tried to put him in a chokehold, but she got slashed.
"We are aware that Chris Copeland was injured early this morning in New York City," said Pacers president Larry Bird in a statement. "We are still gathering information and will update when we know more. Our thoughts are with Chris and those injured."
Copeland, a former New York Knick, was in New York because the Pacers played the Knicks on Wednesday night. The Hawks, meanwhile, were in town to face the Brooklyn Nets.
The attacker, a 22-year-old man named Shezoy Bleary, was apprehended and a switchblade was recovered. He was reportedly trying to listen in on a conversation Copeland was having and his intrusion set off the violent confrontation.
Antic was charged with disorderly conduct and menacing, while Sefolosha was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
A police spokeswoman said that Sefolosha charged at an officer, while Antic physically grabbed another police officer, according to a New York Times report.
"We are aware of the situation involving Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha this morning," Hawks vice president of public relations Garin Narain said. "We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time."
