New York Knicks’ Legend Nixes MSG Return Even if James Dolan Offers Olive Branch Due to Unresolved 2017 Beef

“I guess their lawyer called my lawyer saying it’s a good time for you to come back to the Garden,” Oakley told The Associated Press on Friday. “They’ve got to apologize. We’ll go from there. Can (Dolan) be man enough to say, ‘Mistakes happen.’ And he made one.”

Charles Oakley’s feud with James Dolan originated in 2017 during a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers, as the former NBA enforcer was ejected from Madison Square Garden and had a confrontation with security and staff. Before the incident, Oakley had been a vocal critic of the New York Knicks owner for his inability to manage the team.

“This definitely changed my life. My daughter Googled me, they showed them pulling me out of the Garden, that’s bad. That’s hell for a kid to see that.” Oakley said. “It’s been a struggle the last seven years. 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. But the city got behind me, and I’m always behind the fans. I love that.”

Charles Oakley throws shade at former New York Knicks teammate while praising Jalen Brunson

While Charles Oakley doesn’t plan to watch live soon, he reiterated that he will always root for the New York Knicks to succeed.

Oakley called Jalen Brunson the best New York Knicks player since Walt Frazier, which was a slight at his Hall of Famer teammate Patrick Ewing, with whom he also has beef.

“They said leadership was a big thing and Patrick (Ewing) wasn’t a great leader. Brunson, I think, was way more a leader,” Oakley said. “I don’t want to get in their way, they’re playing great. I’m going to cheer at the guys to do well. I’m not mad at nobody on the floor.”