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After collecting a paycheck from James Dolan and the New York Knicks for about 10 years, Charles Oakley must pay them back.
A federal judge ruled that Oakley owes Madison Square Garden Company about $642,000 in attorney fees stemming from an ongoing lawsuit between the two parties.
The legal troubles arose from Oakley’s highly publicized ejection from a Knicks game in early 2017, when he punched a security official near owner James Dolan’s courtside seat.
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Retired NBA star Charles Oakley attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on December 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
“Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a very inappropriate and completely abusive manner,” the Knicks said in a statement at the time. “He has been expelled and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets help soon.”
The team claims Oakley continually yelled at Dolan, but Oakley denied this and said he was asked to leave the arena shortly after taking his seat at the game for no reason. He hasn’t returned to Madison Square Garden since, despite the team’s recent resurrection.
MSG attorneys attempted to obtain Oakley’s deleted text messages, resulting in fees.
“The court denied most of MSG’s request for wildly inflated fees,” Oakley’s attorney, Valdi Licul, said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “However, we do not agree that MSG is entitled to a recovery and will seek to appeal immediately.”
Former NBA player Charles Oakley sits courtside before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena on February 15, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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Last year, Oakley said Dolan’s lawyers invited him to a game, but he declined.
“They have to apologize,” he told The Associated Press. “We’ll go from there. Can (Dolan) be man enough to say mistakes happen and he made one?”
“Be honest,” Oakley added. “Just be transparent about what you put someone through and how you changed their life. This definitely changed my life. My daughter Googled me, they show them taking me out of the Garden, that’s bad. It’s hell for a kid to see that.”
Oakley is seeking damages for assault, battery and damage to his reputation after Dolan suggested the former NBA player had a substance abuse problem.
James L. Dolan attends the Fifth Annual Little Steven’s Cops Ball at the Mandarin Oriental New York on December 20, 2019 in New York City. (Bobby Bank/Getty Images)
“He’s physically and verbally abusive. He may have a problem with alcohol; we don’t know, do we?” Dolan said at the time.
The Knicks are among the favorites to win the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.
