Charles Oakley insists he did nothing wrong before arrest
Former Knick blames poor relationship with team owner James Dolan
Charles Oakley maintains he did nothing wrong before he was surrounded by Madison Square Garden security officials.
Something has happened, though, to turn him from popular player to persona non grata within his former franchise.
Oakley blamed his strained relationship with the Knicks and owner James Dolan on Thursday for the altercation that led to his ejection and arrest from New York's 119-115 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
CHARLES OAKLEY WENT AFTER JAMES DOLAN <a href="https://t.co/rDO746LtMt">pic.twitter.com/rDO746LtMt</a>
—@ComplexSportsOakley said during an ESPN Radio interview that he had been in his seat for just a few minutes when he was surrounded by security, denying that they approached him after he shouted at Dolan.
"Now I'm four rows from this guy, so I'm going to walk in this place and just start hollering, 'James Dolan! James Dolan!' I mean, that's embarrassing, man. I did not do none of that," Oakley said. "I didn't know the man was sitting in front of me at first until they walked over there."
Oakley said he has been told that Dolan must be informed by security whenever he is in the arena, and that MSG staff follows him when he leaves his seat to go the bathroom.
But the Knicks said he was causing trouble Wednesday even before security reached his seat.
'Pure fiction'
"There are dozens of security staff, employees and NYPD that witnessed Oakley's abusive behaviour," the team said in a statement. "It started when he entered the building and continued until he was arrested and left the building. Every single statement we have received is consistent in describing his actions. Everything he said since the incident is pure fiction."
Clippers forward Blake Griffin said he recognized Oakley right away and saw him say something to Dolan before the altercation at his seat.
"I was walking down and I saw him. He stopped and he started talking to Dolan," Griffin said. "But it was crazy. I didn't know what it was about or anything. I just saw a bunch of commotion."
Oakley was charged with three counts of misdemeanour assault and one count of criminal trespass. He is accused of striking one security guard in the face with a closed fist, and when two other people tried to intervene, both were pushed and received cuts.
He is due back in court April 11.