The New York Knicks have frequently welcomed past players back to Madison Square Garden, but that hasn't been the case for Charles Oakley.
The former Knicks power forward has endured a public feud with Knicks owner James Dolan that has separated Oakley from many other beloved Knick alums. Since Knicks games now often feature a section of rowdy former Knicks players, Oakley's strain with the owner is even more clear.
This all mainly stems from one night in 2017, when Oakley was publicly booted from a New York home game. The fallout from that incident is still present, with Oakley and Dolan very much at odds with each other.
Here's a breakdown of how Oakley's feud with Dolan has led to him avoiding MSG.
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Is Charles Oakley banned from MSG?
Oakley was banned from Madison Square Garden in the immediate aftermath of his arrest there on Feb. 8, 2017, but the ban was lifted days later by owner James Dolan. However, Oakley has not returned to MSG since the incident, and his ongoing feud with Dolan means that is unlikely to change.
For years, Oakley and Dolan had a rift stemming from Oakley's willingness to criticize the team. Oakley was initially more willing to try and find common ground, but Dolan never agreed.
"I had at least 15 people try to set up a meeting," Oakley told the New York Times in 2016. "He won’t meet. I want to sit down to talk to him. I want me and him in a room. And lock the door. Lock that door!"
On February 8, 2017, when the Knicks were hosting the Los Angeles Clippers, Oakley was arrested and charged with three counts of assault after he got into an altercation while sitting near James Dolan. The incident occurred in the middle of the game when Kristaps Porzingis was at the free throw line and briefly stopped the game.
According to the police, Oakley was heckling Dolan from his seat, and NYPD said Oakley punched three MSG employees as he was being escorted away from his seat. Oakley would later be cleared of all charges.
"Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner," the Knicks said in a statement. "He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick, and we hope he gets some help soon."
However, Oakley said he didn't do anything wrong.
"What happened is me and four friends went to the game tonight, to watch the Knicks and Clippers. We did sit down, trying to have a good time. Next thing I know I was asked to leave the building," Oakley said after the incident, via Ian Begley. "I asked, 'Why?' and they said, 'You have to leave because someone ordered you to leave.' And I'm like, 'I've been here four and a half minutes.' I'm a Knicks fan, played here 10 years. I love the Knicks. I love New York. This is my heart. I wish them all the luck and success on the basketball court. I don't know why I'm not welcome into the Garden."
Oakley added that he was simply protecting himself from security when they came up to him unexpectedly.
"When someone is walking up on you, you've got to protect yourself in all matters," he said. "I've been in situations like this before. I've been jumped before. So in my mind, if you see eight, nine, 10 guys walking up on you, you've got to brace yourself and be ready for the challenge. That's all I was thinking."
Since the incident, Oakley has been very public about his innocence, claiming that he was always being watched when he attended games at MSG. Two days after, the Knicks banned Oakley from MSG indefinitely.
Dolan, meanwhile, said that he believed Oakley had issues with alcohol and came to the game with bad intentions.
"It is very clear to us that Charles Oakley came to the Garden with an agenda, with a mission in mind," Dolan said, via ESPN. "From the moment he stepped into the Garden, from the moment he walked through the doors, he began with this behavior, abusive behavior, disrespectful behavior, stuff you don't want to say on the radio. You do those things, you come to the Garden and you behave that way...you will be ejected and banned. That is the right thing to do. Yes, I understand he was a big star and a Knick, et cetera, but that doesn't excuse people from that kind of behavior."
Then, four days after the initial ban, MSG lifted the ban but Oakley said he wanted a public apology before returning to the arena.
"I have never asked for nothing," Oakley said, via ESPN. "I love the fans in New York. They've been supportive. One of the things I told the commissioner, I want to have a press conference and I want him to apologize to me and the fans. They've had my back and they've felt the pain. I really appreciate the people all around who've had my back."
However, Oakley was once again banned as part of the agreement with Oakley to drop the charges of assault, harassment and trespassing. Since then, though, MSG once again lifted the ban and invited Oakley to a 2024 playoff game, which Oakley declines.
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Charles Oakley vs. James Dolan beef timeline
November, 2016
Oakley admits that he has a rift with Dolan, but claims he'd be open to settling the dispute.
"The boss don’t like me," Oakley said, via the New York Times. "I wouldn't mind having a sit-down dinner with Dolan. I wouldn't mind cooking him dinner."
February 8, 2017
Oakley is kicked out of MSG during a Knicks home game against the Clippers and charged with three counts of assault for his actions. Dolan claims Oakley would say belligerent things to him from a few rows away, while Oakley argued he didn't do anything wrong.
February 10, 2017
Dolan bans Oakley from Madison Square Garden indefinitely, arguing the former player comes to games with an "agenda" and "mission" in mind. Oakley continues to maintain his innocence publicly.
"I certainly think Charles should be embarrassed," Dolan said. "Should we be embarrassed? No, it's sad. The staff at MSG were abused. Don't be embarrassed -- just refuse to be embarrassed."
February 13, 2017
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver enlists Michael Jordan to help mediate the rift between Dolan and Oakley after Oakley was banned indefinitely.
February 14, 2017
MSG lifts the ban on Oakley, but the former player refuses to return to the arena until Dolan publicly apologizes to him and the fans for his actions.
"It's not about being at the Garden," Oakley said, via Jeff Goodman. "It's about the fans. I want them to apologize to the fans. I told the commissioner I want them to apologize to the fans."
September, 2017
Oakley sues Dolan and MSG for defamation and assault and battery stemming from how he was treated after getting ejected from a game as a fan in February, claiming that Dolan falsely labeled Oakley an alcoholic.
February, 2018
Charges against Oakley stemming from the incident are dismissed in part after Oakley agreed to avoid trouble for six months. Additionally, MSG once again bans Oakley from entering the arena.
February, 2020
Oakley's lawsuit against Dolan and MSG is dismissed after a federal judge argued Oakley failed to show how he was falsely treated during his ejection.
November, 2020
The U.S. appeals court revives Oakley's lawsuit for assault and battery, but not defamation.
November, 2021
Once again, Oakley's lawsuit is tossed by he same judge who tossed the lawsuit the first time.
May, 2023
The New York Court of Appeals revives the lawsuit for a second time, claiming Oakley's argument that MSG security used excessive force is not unreasonable.
"This matter should be behind all of us at this point, but because of the ongoing legal maneuverings of Charles Oakley and his lawyers, this case will apparently now have to continue," MSG said in a statement. "Nevertheless, we fully expect this case to be dismissed — for the third time."
May 10, 2024
MSG invites Oakley to join other former Knicks in watching the team during the playoffs, but Oakley declines. Instead, Oakley maintains his desire for the team to apologize publicly for how much the incident changes his life.
"Just be honest," Oakley said. "Just be transparent over what you put someone through and how you changed their life. This definitely changed my life. My daughter Googled me, they show them pulling me out of the Garden. That's bad. That's hell for a kid to see that."
Oakley also criticized Adam Silver for his role but thanked the fans for their support.
"It's been a struggle the last seven years," he said. "There have been things said that weren't true. The league didn't step in. The commissioner is pretty soft. He didn't do nothing. The city got behind me, and I'm always behind the fans. I love that."
November, 2025
The court orders that Oakley must pay MSG $642,000 in lawyer fees after it was determined that Oakley deleted text messages and, in the process, wasted MSG's resources.
"On or around July 10, 2024, [Oakley's] counsel discovered that all text messages sent to or from [his] phone prior to February 2022 had been deleted," the court said, via the New York Post.
June, 2026
Adam Silver admits he tried to mediate the feud with Michael Jordan.
"It is a shame in that I tried, Michael Jordan tried too, to broker peace between Charles and Jim Dolan," he said "Our efforts were unsuccessful. I think it's unfortunate for the NBA that this is an ongoing situation."
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Where does Charles Oakley live?
According to a 2016 story in the New York Times, Oakley splits his time between New York, Cleveland and Atlanta. Oakley was born and raised in Cleveland and remains a welcome figure in his hometown amid his issues with the Knicks.
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Who owns Madison Square Garden?
As part of his ownership of the Knicks and Rangers, James Dolan also owns Madison Square Garden. Dolan is listed as MSG's Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Charles Oakley career stats
Year Team Games MPG PPG RPG APG SPG
1985-86 Bulls 77 23.0 9.6 8.6 1.7 0.9
1986-87 Bulls 82 36.3 14.5 13.1 3.6 1.0
1987-88 Bulls 82 34.3 12.4 13.0 3.0 0.8
1988-89 Knicks 82 31.8 12.9 10.5 2.3 1.3
1989-90 Knicks 61 36.0 14.6 11.9 2.4 1.0
1990-91 Knicks 76 36.0 11.2 12.1 2.7 0.8
1991-92 Knicks 82 28.2 6.2 8.5 1.6 0.8
1992-93 Knicks 82 27.2 6.9 8.6 1.5 1.0
1993-94 Knicks 82 35.8 11.8 11.8 2.7 1.3
1994-95 Knicks 50 31.3 10.1 8.9 2.5 1.2
1995-96 Knicks 53 33.5 11.4 8.7 2.6 1.1
1996-97 Knicks 80 35.9 10.8 9.8 2.8 1.4
1997-98 Knicks 79 34.6 9.0 9.2 2.5 1.6
1998-99 Raptors 50 32.7 7.0 7.5 3.4 0.9
1999-00 Raptors 80 30.4 6.9 6.8 3.2 1.3
2000-01 Raptors 78 35.5 9.6 9.5 3.4 1.0
2001-02 Bulls 57 24.3 3.8 6.0 2.0 0.9
2002-03 Wizards 42 12.2 1.8 2.5 1.0 0.3
2003-04 Rockets 7 3.6 1.3 0.7 0.3 0.0