The Ugly Truth Why Knicks Icon Charles Oakley Is Still Locked Out of the Garden

One of the things that is special about the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals run is that all of the former players are cheering the team on. Whether at Madison Square Garden or an away game, you can see Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony, Bernard King, Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, and John Starks, just to name a few. But one Knicks legend has been noticeably absent: Charles Oakley.

​The beloved Knicks legend, who is married to Angela Reed and co-stars with her on Real Housewives of Atlanta, has been barred from MSG for nearly a decade.

​Everything came to a head on February 8, 2017. Oakley, a longtime critic of team owner James Dolan, was attending a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The former power forward was approached by MSG’s security team near Dolan’s courtside seat.

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The confrontation would escalate into one of the most chaotic scenes in NBA history, involving a former player attending a game that was broadcast live. In the surveillance footage, Oakley was seen pushing security guards before being forcibly wrestled off the premises, handcuffed, and arrested. Eventually, he was charged with misdemeanor assault and trespassing charges.

After his release, Oakley filed a lawsuit against Dolan, initially on criminal assault charges, but they were dismissed. Additionally, he brought a civil suit of assault, battery, false imprisonment, and defamation against the Knicks’ owner.

​Immediately following the incident, Dolan issued a formal ban against the beloved 1990s icon, citing concerns over abusive behavior and alleging anger issues.

​Over the years, the relationship between Oakley and Dolan has gotten so bad that Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, recently revealed that he tried to broker a peace treaty, USA Today reports.

“It is a shame that I tried, Michael Jordan tried to broker peace between Charles and Jim Dolan, and our efforts were unsuccessful,” Silver said

“And so I think it’s unfortunate for the NBA that this is an ongoing situation, but as you know, it’s currently wrapped up in litigation, and I tried my best, so I don’t really see anything else I can do at the moment,” Silver added.

Oakley then went on to accuse Silver of exaggerating Jordan’s role in the long-running James Dolan feud.

“I want to talk about the commissioner lying again. When the commissioner is talking about him and Michael Jordan, he’s throwing Michael Jordan under the bus. That’s what he’s really doing,” Oakley told TMZ Sports. “He’s trying to have a conversation like they just talked yesterday.

Another barrier to entry at MSG for Oakley is his feud with Ewing. The former front-court duo that defined the 90s Knicks teams have not spoken to each other in years after being close friends. Oakley claims that Ewing did not speak to him during a recent playoff game in Cleveland.

“For Patrick not to be man enough to come and talk to me after having his back for 10 years, he’s a coward,” Oakley said.

“The last straw was when he was in Cleveland,” Oakley continued. “He knew I was at the game and didn’t speak to me. As many times as he’s been to my mother’s house, he can’t speak to me? I’m drawing lines.”

For a team that is on an unbelievable streak and on the cusp of winning the franchise’s first championship in more than 50 years, welcoming “Oak” back to the Garden is the final, necessary step to completely heal the organization’s past fractures.