Charles Oakley was banned from Madison Square Garden by Knicks chief James Dolan after an altercation last week. After the incident, Dolan had harsh words for the former Knicks power forward, who embodied the rough-and-tumble spirit 1990s Knicks coached by Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy. But NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement that the Knicks-Oakley healing had begun, and the ban was lifted after both parties apologized.
The truce was apparently brokered at the NBA headquarters, with both Oakley and Dolan present. Silver played peacemaker with the help of a legend who knows both antagonists well — Michael Jordan reportedly got on a conference call to help (probably from some marvelous golf course). Jordan and Oakley go way back — back to before Jordan ever won an NBA championship: they were teammates on the Bulls before Oakley went to New York. Jordan, now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, also has a relationship with fellow owner Dolan, so he was a well-positioned olive branch man. “I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Dolan, Mr. Oakley and Mr. Jordan to work toward a resolution of this matter,” Silver said.
