Almost a decade ago, a 44-year old Charles Oakley made it to the headlines with his desire of going back to the court and make an NBA comeback. Ten years later, the 1985 draft 9th overall selection is back in the spotlight but this time, he was escorted out of the arena.
Reports from LA Times published that the former enforcer of the New York Knicks in the 90s engaged in an altercation with the team owner James Dolan, whom he had a cantankerous relationship with during his 10-year tenure with the team.
With the game tied at 19, Kristaps Porzingis was about to shoot his free throws at 6:18 mark of the first quarter when the incident started to attract more attention on the sidelines that even the 7-foot-3 Latvian himself was seen looking at the commotion. The MSG security was seen trying to pacify the situation when the 19-year veteran pushed the security in front of him away.
The security personnel of not less than 10 men was able to escort Oakley away and was later handcuffed while waiting for the police to arrive. He was arrested on three counts of third-degree assault. The men that were repeatedly pushed by Oakley did not retaliate.
The Knicks released a statement through their Twitter handle @NY_KnicksPR, saying that Oakley acted abusively and was witnessed by security, employees, and NYPD. The Business Insider stated that they still described him as a "great Knick" and hoped that their former player gets help soon.
In his defense, Oakley told The Undefeated's Mike Wise that he was confronted by the MSG security and asked why he is sitting so close with Dolan before being told to leave the arena. "Last year against Charlotte, I went to a game and a bunch of security people came up to me right away and told me not to walk around, stay where I am. He just doesn't want me in the building," he added.
According to NBC Sports, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said that his sources told him that Phil Jackson contacted Michael Jordan to try and calm Oakley. "But Michael Jordan, from what I'm told, was unable to reach Charles Oakley because, by that time, Charles Oakley had been arrested and removed from the Garden and had his cell phone confiscated at the time. So, he couldn't be reached," the outspoken sports personality elaborated.
After the incident, Former Indiana Pacers and now NBA Commentator for TNT Reggie Miller hit the Knicks with his tweet following the arrest. He questioned the way Oakley was treated. Through his Twitter handles @ReggieMillerTNT, he said, "If you're a FA to be, why would you play for an Owner who treats the past greats like this or a President who stabs star player in the back?"
The Daily News reported that Oakley was released from the Midtown South precinct midnight and avoided the waiting press outside via back door with a black SUV waiting.
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