#CHARLES OAKLEY BEEF SERIES#

While Wilkens was recently named one of the “15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History” as part of the league’s 75th anniversary celebrations, Oakley says he believes Wilkins was “on vacation” in Toronto. Open about his thoughts on the coaches he had during his career, Oakley also has little good to say about former Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens. He made the right decision for him, but it wasn’t a team decision.” “As I said at the time, Vince is still our brother,” Oakey writes. Thanks to a private jet, Carter made it back in time for the game but the Raptors lost 88-87.

#CHARLES OAKLEY BEEF SERIES#

But he makes it clear he disagreed with Carter’s decision to attend his graduation at North Carolina on the day of Game 7 of a playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers in May 2001. Oakley speaks appreciatively about former Raptors teammate Vince Carter. The first time I got there, I didn’t know too much abut it … But once I got there, the people around me were just so nice. Lacking the proper paperwork, he was turned away by border guards when he tried to cross the border in January 1999 to resume play after the lockout. The Knicks traded Oakley along with Sean Marks and cash to the Raptors for Marcus Camby in June 1998. Oakley is lukewarm on Knicks icon Patrick Ewing, isn’t a fan of Dennis Rodman, and says the league had a “serious drug problem” in the ’80s. “He don’t treat people right,” Oakley said of Dolan. His relationship with the Knicks remains rocky, which Oakley calls sad. “But this is a different Madison Square Garden from my days, a different Knicks team, and a different owner.” “The last place you expect to be treated like a criminal is at Madison Square Garden,” writes Oakley, who spent 10 seasons there as a Knick. And in 2017, he was ejected at Madison Square Garden - putting an ugly face on his beef with Dolan.

Oakley had a well-publicized feud with Hill, then with the Philadelphia 76ers, over an unpaid debt. And Oakley does not mince words.Ĭhapter 13, for example, is titled “Barkley and His Big Mouth.” Oakley has his list of villains with Knicks owner James Dolan, Charles Barkley and Tyrone Hill high among them. “Guys were hungrier back when I played,” he adds. “I think that 20 per cent of today’s guys would be tough enough to play in our era,” he writes in the book. Today’s players would have a tougher time in the his era, Oakley contends. “I think it would be easier for me,” he said. Oakley is clear about how he would fare in today’s game, with its emphasis on three-point shooting and spacing, not to mention its lack of physicality. “Simply put - you did not mess with Oak,” Jordan writes.

His teammates appreciated Oakley having their back, which explains Michael Jordan providing the foreword to the book. I cleaned up and made sure everything was all right,” he writes. Oakley describes his role in the NBA as that of a butler in a mansion.

Charles oakley beef