Michael Jordan and Adam Silver both failed to convince James Dolan to end Charles Oakley’s ban from MSG
New York Knicks owner James Dolan refuses to let go of his grudge against Charles Oakley, even with the franchise returning to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
And apparently even Michael Jordan wasn’t changing his mind.
Before Game 1, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed that he and Jordan were trying to bring peace between Dolan and the former Knicks guard. No one got anywhere.
EX-KNICKS FOOTBALL CHARLES OAKLEY MUST PAY MSG $642K IN LAWSUIT AMID COURT FIGHT OVER 2017 EJECTION
Rachel Nichols wrote:
“Adam Silver says both he and Michael Jordan tried their best to bring peace between Charles Oakley and James Dolan, but they were unsuccessful. Oakley was at Knicks road games during the tournament but is still banned from playing at The Garden.”
Retired NBA star Charles Oakley attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 30, 2022. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
The greatest player in NBA history and the league’s commissioner both stepped in to help settle one of basketball’s dumbest controversies.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE DOD’S DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Dolan didn’t move.
The bad blood dates back to February 2017 when Oakley attended a Knicks home game and sat a few rows behind Dolan’s courtside seat.
Dolan said Oakley was speaking badly. Oakley denied it. Not long after, security surrounded the former fan favorite and led him off the field in handcuffs as stunned fans watched.
James L. Dolan attends the annual Little Steven’s Policeman’s Ball at the Mandarin Oriental New York in New York City on Dec. 20, 2019. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
The ugly scene quickly became one of the most embarrassing moments of Dolan’s tenure as Knicks owner.
Instead of trying to defuse the situation, Dolan escalated the situation. He later suggested that Oakley had an alcohol problem.
Oakley was fired for defamation. The legal battle dragged on for years, but one thing never changed: Dolan kept Oakley banned from The Garden.
LeBron James and Michael Jordan attend the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Fast forward to this postseason.
While the Knicks made history behind Jalen Brunson, Oakley has been supporting the team in stadiums across the country. He attended games in opposing buildings and enjoyed the franchise he helped define in the 1990s.
You are welcome in almost every NBA arena. Not just at Madison Square Garden.
Dolan owns the building. He can decide who comes through the doors. But after all these years, refusing to bury the hatchet with Oakley says a lot more about Dolan than it does about the former Knicks star.
OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Jordan and Silver tried. Dolan said no. Nearly a decade later, the grudges still linger.
Send us your comments: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow on X: @alejandroaveela
