MSG: Charles Oakley Wasn't Invited to Knicks Playoff Games Despite Icon's Comments

Madison Square Garden is denying former NBA player Charles Oakley's assertion that he was invited back amid an ongoing lawsuit with the arena, according to ESPN.

Oakley told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) Friday that "their lawyer called my lawyer saying it's a good time for you to come back to the Garden," but that he would not return until the team apologized for his arrest at the arena in 2017.

A spokesperson for MSG denied the claim.

Oakley was arrested at a New York Knicks game in 2017 and charged with misdemeanor counts of assault that were cleared in 2018. He has since sued MSG and Knicks owner James Dolan over the incident.

A player for the Knicks from 1988 to 1998, Oakley helped lead them to the NBA Finals in 1994.

The incident occurred during a nationally televised Knicks game against the Los Angeles Clippers, from which arena security physically removed Oakley as he reportedly shouted about Dolan.

ESPN's Ian Begley reported that Oakley's removal came after he was "making comments" at Dolan, a claim Oakley has denied.

Oakley first launched a civil suit against Dolan and MSG in 2017 that included allegations of defamation, assault and battery.

The suit was dismissed in 2020 before an appeals court ruled the parts of the case concerning assault and battery could proceed.

The case was dismissed again in 2021 but revived by the New York Court of Appeals in 2023.

Most recently, Oakley's lawyers filed an amended lawsuit in April, the AP reported.

"This matter should be behind all of us at this point, but because of the ongoing legal maneuverings of Charles Oakley and his lawyers, this case will apparently now have to continue," MSG said in a statement, per ESPN. "Nevertheless, we fully expect this case to be dismissed — for the third time."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said shortly after the incident that he and Michael Jordan helped broker a meeting between Oakley and Dolan during which both parties "were apologetic about the incident and subsequent comments," per ESPN.

But Oakley told the AP on Friday that he wouldn't return to MSG until Dolan apologized.

He added that he "would love to go" to see a Knicks home game after the case was decided.

The Knicks currently hold a 2-1 conference semifinals series lead against the Indiana Pacers despite injuries to key players including Julius Randle and OG Anunoby. The two teams will return to MSG Tuesday for Game 5.