NBA star Thabo Sefolosha has been accused of mocking a ‘midget cop’ during a court hearing

WHEN you’re more than 2m tall it’s easy to pick on someone for being slightly height deficient, but this NBA star’s childish taunt might have gone too far.

TOWERING NBA forward Thabo Sefolosha called an NYPD cop a “midget’’ after the officer asked him to leave the scene of ex-Knicks star Chris Copeland’s stabbing in April, the policeman testily recalled in court Tuesday.

“He said to me, ‘You’re mad you’re a midget — I’d be mad, too, if I were a midget,’ ” said 5-foot-7 (1.7m) rookie Officer JohnPaul Giacona, quoting the 6-foot-7 (2.01m) Sefolosha.

“I personally thought that was uncalled for,” the officer sniffed.

Sefolosha, 31, is on trial in Manhattan Criminal Court for obstruction, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

He and his Atlanta Hawks teammate Pero Antic had been partying with Copeland at the Manhattan hot spot 1Oak on April 8 when Copeland began arguing with a gal pal outside.

A stranger tried to intervene, and when Copeland snapped at him, the guy stabbed him.

Sefolosha’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, told jurors that his client was as far back from the scene as anyone once the cops arrived — and hurled the “midget” insult at Giacona only after the officer hissed at him, “Get off my block, this is my f**king block.”

Cops say Sefolosha eventually lunged at an officer and resisted arrest.

Everyone looks small when you’re 2.01m tall.

Sefolosha claims that during the scuffle, cops fractured a bone in his right leg, shelving him for the rest of the NBA season.

Giacona said he didn’t know how the baller injured his leg and didn’t recall an officer using a baton.

Spiro argued that Giacona targeted Sefolosha because he was black.

“I don’t think he saw a sophisticated man who speaks many languages and is an international icon,” the lawyer said. “I think he saw a black man in a hoodie.”

Spiro played video surveillance for jurors showing dozens of people closer to the crime scene than Sefolosha.

But prosecutors insisted that Sefolosha thought he was above the law.

“He doesn’t think the rules apply to him,” Assistant District Attorney Jesse Matthews told the jury in opening statements.

“He’s a professional athlete, a member of the NBA, and he’s going to do what he wants to do.”

Similar charges against Antic were later dismissed.

Prosecutors offered to dismiss the charges against Sefolosha if he completed one day of community service as part of a plea deal.

Thabo Sefolosha might not be on the NYPD’s Christmas card list.

But Sefolosha rejected the offer, insisting on his innocence.

If convicted, he could face up to a year in jail.

Pressed by Spiro during cross-examination, Giacona acknowledged that although he had previously said he asked Sefolosha to move off the block six times he could only remember

doing so at least three times.

He also said he didn’t know how the Hawks forward’s leg was injured or hear the sound of batons being deployed.

Spiro played video surveillance footage for jurors showing that there were patrons closer to the crime scene tape than Sefolosha and his friends were.

Six police officers will be called as witnesses for the prosecution, but the judge, Robert Mandelbaum, has denied a defense motion to view their personnel files.

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said the court case was on his mind

Tuesday.

“I think we all care about Thabo,” he said.

“I’m hoping for the best. To be put in a little of a tough spot, going through this, is

not easy for him or his family. ... But I just want the best outcome for him. He’s such a good person.”

— with AP

Originally published as NBA star Thabo Sefolosha has been accused of mocking a ‘midget cop’ during a court hearing