Los Angeles (AFP)
Full-back Sterling Brown was assaulted by strangers who slashed his face, his club Houston Rockets said ahead of their game against the Miami Heat on Monday.
“Last night Sterling Brown was assaulted,” said the Rockets.
"He did not know the attackers and had never dealt with them. He suffered lacerations on his face but will make a full recovery."
According to The Athletic website, the 26-year-old rear was assaulted outside a night bar.
He was withdrawn from Monday's game due to a knee injury.
This incident is "heartbreaking," Rockets coach Stephen Silas said ahead of the game against Miami.
"It breaks our hearts. He's one of our guys, someone from our team that we care about, someone we are with every day."
"So as to how I feel, and what the whole team is feeling, we are first of all reassured because he is going to recover, but also disgusted with what has happened," added Silas.
Brown joined the Rockets in November after three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.
His time in this team was marked by an extra-sporting incident in 2018, when he was hit by a Taser following a confrontation with the police.
The basketball player later accused the police officers concerned of using excessive force and obtained compensation of $ 750,000 from the city of Milwaukee for the case.
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