When the New York Knicks show their former players in attendance for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, there’s going to be one missing: Charles Oakley.
That’s because the former Knicks forward, who was part of those disappointing 1990s teams, is still feuding with owner James Dolan after a 2017 controversy at Madison Square Garden.
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Not even New York’s historic playoff run that has the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and two wins away from their first NBA title since 1973 has been enough to make Oakley attend games.
Instead, Oakley will be hosting a watch party at The Bank Event Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Charles Oakley vs. James Dolan feud explained
Back in 2017, Charles Oakley was sitting courtside at a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden when he was forcibly removed from the arena and arrested.
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The NYPD claimed Oakley was heckling Dolan from his seat during the game, and Oakley claimed Dolan had him ejected, according to The New York Times.
Police also said the Knicks great punched three MSG employees while he was removed from his seat. All charges against Oakley were later dismissed.
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Dolan banned Oakley from MSG and suggested he might be an alcoholic and a danger to those around him.
“He has a problem with anger. He’s both physically and verbally abusive,” Dolan said after the incident occurred. “He may have a problem with alcohol. We don’t know. But those behaviors of being physically and verbally abusive, those are personality problems.”
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Oakley has filed a lawsuit against Dolan, MSG and two other companies owned by the Knicks owner that is ongoing to this day.
“Even though me and the owner are in a dispute, I hope the team has success, especially for the city of New York,” he said. “They’ve been waiting for it.”
Is Charles Oakley still banned from MSG?
No, Dolan has lifted the ban on Oakley and he is allowed to attend games.
However, Oakley simply refuses to return to MSG. He has not said what it would take for him to return, either.
Even Adam Silver and Michael Jordan were unsuccessful in trying to broker peace between Oakley and Dolan.
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“I tried, Michael Jordan tried, to broker peace between Charles Oakley and Jim Dolan,” Silver said last week. “Our efforts were unsuccessful. I think it’s unfortunate for the NBA… but it’s currently in litigation. I tried my best.”
It’s a shame to see all this going on with the Knicks finally in position to win an NBA title.
We can only hope Oakley will reconsider before this series ends because it would be great to see him back at MSG rooting his old team on.