Charles Oakley, New York Knicks, MSG, NBA
Charles Oakley confronts an MSG security guard in 2017. (Getty Images)

Charles Oakley Standing Firm On Avoiding MSG Without James Dolan Apology

Charles Oakley is one of the most beloved New York Knicks, but don't expect to see him at Madison Square Garden anytime soon. Still.

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If you remember Oakley the player, you know he put the "power" in the forward position while playing next to Patrick Ewing and the late Anthony Mason in New York's frontcourt in the 1990s. (Before that, he was Michael Jordan's security guard with the Chicago Bulls.)

Speaking of security guards, Oakley had a tussle with one while attending a game in 2017. He was arrested and charged with assault.

After that, Oakley filed a lawsuit against MSG and Knicks owner James Dolan. The suit is ongoing, but apparently, the Knicks would love for him to return for a playoff game. As of now, New York leads the Indiana Pacers, 2-1, in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.

"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.

Yeah, well, no thanks. At least, that seemed to be Oakley's take on the matter.

"They've got to apologize," he told the AP. "We'll go from there. Can [Dolan] be man enough to say, 'Mistakes happen.' And he made one."

Oakley filed battery claims against Dolan, including an amended claim in April. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron was assigned an order to handle the case going forward earlier this week.

"Just be honest," Oakley told the AP. "Just be transparent over what you put someone through and how you changed their life. This definitely changed my life. My daughter Googled me, they show them pulling me out of the Garden, that's bad. That's hell for a kid to see that."