The trial of Thabo Sefolosha began Monday in New York City and the hearing could last up to a week. Head coach Mike Budenholzer is trying to find the positive in Sefolosha missing practices and games.
The Hawks’ guard/forward will likely miss the team’s first two exhibition games. The preseason schedule gets underway Wednesday against the Cavaliers in Cincinnati and Friday against the Pelicans in Jacksonville, Fla.
Sefolosha is facing charges of obstructing government administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in a case stemming from a dispute outside a New York nightclub in April. During the arrest, Sefolosha suffered a broken right leg and ligament damage that required season-ending surgery.
Sefolosha has been cleared for all basketball activities and took part in the first week of training camp.
Budenholzer said missing Sefolosha for perhaps a week is not ideal but could have some benefits.
“There is never a good time,” Budenholzer said Tuesday. “But as we visited with Thabo and talked about it, getting a good week of practice, a couple two-a-days, a scrimmage, if there was a time it might be a good time to recover from a hard week of practice. … He worked quite a bit with the starters now some other guys can work with the starters. I’m not trying to B.S. you but in some ways there is a positive that we can pull from it – working other guys and keeping him health-wise where he is still working in a good direction.”
Kyle Korver also said that Sefolosha missing some of training camp is not ideal but that the team understands he must be away in order “to clear his name.”
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