1994. The Knicks send two players to the Minneapolis All-Star Game. Patrick Ewing and John Starks. Pat Riley, the coach, is pissed. According to him, this honor should have gone in the first place to his n°34, Charles Oakley, known as “Oak”. ” It’s a joke ! Exclaims the slicked-back coach when he reads the list of replacements for the All-Star Game, chosen by the coaches of the Eastern Conference. ” Charles is our mainstay this season. I’m as happy for Pat and John as I’m sorry for him. He deserved this recognition. »
It is hard to believe that a mass of 2.06 m and 111 kg could have gone unnoticed. A team player par excellence, Oakley uses his imposing physique and his power to bring order to the NBA rackets. In the American League, this is called an “enforcer” and every team that aims for the title must have one. Oakley does the dirty work. He is not, however, a “dirty player”, a dirty player. It plays muscular but without cheating. The strong winger of “Gotham” is in all the right moves. Especially when it’s hot. He loves the fight. And if he doesn’t jump as high as Derrick Coleman or as fast as Dennis Rodman, he knows how to sniff the ball. Twice in his career, he totaled more than a thousand rebounds in a season (1987 and 88). ” He’s a warrior “, continues Pat Riley before adding the most beautiful compliment of all: “ Charles is in-dis-pen-sa-ble! I wish all my players were like him. Not for his style of play but for his state of mind. »
At the time, “le Chêne” was already thirty years old. He has always worked in the shadow of the stars. First Michael Jordan at the Bulls. Then Pat Ewing and John Starks at “Big Apple”. When he learned of his departure from the Knicks in 1988, “MJ”, who lost a very close friend, saw red. ” Who will defend now? »
A protege of Michael Jordan
The Charles Oakley-Bill Cartwright transfer will cause a lot of ink to flow. A priori, Chicago has no reason to give up a top rebounder (No. 2 in the category in 1987 and 88, 5 times in the Top 10 between 1987 and 94) and 24-year-old super defender against a pivot back-up of 31 pins on the downward slope. But Horace Grant’s outburst makes Oakley’s departure less painful. And the Bulls want to recover a big man (Cartwright is 2.16 m) experienced, able to relieve the Jordan-Pippen pair in scoring (the Knick was running at 17.5 pts in 1986-87 and 11.1 in 1987-88 over 20 minutes) .
Her Majesty will never digest what she considers the trade of shame. Events proved GM Jerry Krause right with the first Chicagoan “threepeat” but Jordan definitely took a dislike to Cartwright. Some even suspect him of deliberately sending rotten passes to the former Knick to put him in impossible situations… Easy afterwards for Michael to criticize the number of turnovers of Cartwright. In training, Phil Jackson makes sure not to directly oppose two players who clearly cannot manage each other. Bill left Chicago in 1994, during Jordan’s first retirement. The Bulls were outed 4-3 in the Conference Semifinals. Their executioners: Charles Oakley’s Knicks.
In this year 1993-94, with 11.8 points and 11.8 rebounds on average, “Oak” seemed to have to participate in the All-Star Game, for the first time in nine years of career. The coaches decided otherwise. ” I don’t know what else I have to do. I have the respect of the players but not that of the coaches, apparently. Maybe it’s because they didn’t have the opportunity to rub shoulders with me on the pitch… »
For the All-Star weekend, the Cleveland native is therefore preparing to stay at home, his toes fanned out. ” It’s not a big deal, it’s not just basketball in life. And then I still have the hope of participating one day. »
Exceptional defensive stats
Last second twist: Alonzo Mourning, injured, must decline the invitation. Oakley replaces him at short notice and tastes a deserved consecration. We can say that Father Charles is misunderstood. The previous season, Donnie Walsh, the general manager of Indiana, had called him a “gross”. A rough bully, Oakley hasn’t changed but people’s opinions have. Walsh admits: This guy can’t stop working. He leaves his guts on the floor. »
Pat Williams, general manager of Orlando, underlines the big weakness of his team by declaring: We need a Charles Oakley! »
In addition to the classic statistics, the coaches of the Knicks raise some quite telling ones which testify to the combativeness – or not – of the players. During the 1993-94 season, “Oak” recovered 34 of the 36 stray balls he threw at. He totaled 139 assists (that is to say that he prevented 139 baskets by coming to help a teammate beaten in defense) and he caused 31 passages in force. Bar gold in Pat Riley’s defensive system, locked from locked home. To return to the classic stats, he is the most skilful player in the New York major five.
“ When I think that all the teams have contacted us to try to get him back… “Blows Pat Riley, relieved by this invitation in extremis for the Match of the Stars.
” Everybody say I got no relaxation, comments the venerable Charles, but that doesn’t stop me from constantly fighting for the ball. I don’t know many players who like to go into contact for 30 or 40 minutes per game. My rule is to take the position and never, absolutely never slack off. I have that in my heart. I am strong physically and mentally. You will always find someone stronger than you, but that doesn’t stop you from giving the best of yourself. Whether someone brings me Karl Malone or heavy pivots, I will not back down. Never. »
Charles was not 7 when he left Cleveland to live with his grandparents on a farm in Alabama. It was there, seeing his grandfather Julius get up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to go and work in the fields, that he understood the concept of work. ” He did all of this for us. When he came home, my grandmother had prepared everything for him after taking care of eight children. »
This sense of sacrifice has lived in “Oak” for two decades. According to his favorite expression, his role is to “make Ewing’s and Starks’ job easier”. ” I understood very young that nothing was easy. I saw neighborhoods where the kids had everything, even what they didn’t ask for. And that didn’t stop them from screwing up. Me, I was not a saint but I never stuck in bad tricks. »
Drafted in the Top 10 as he arrives from Division II NCAA
In high school, Charles is more famous for his performances as a defender of the US soccer team than for those obtained sneakers. However, he chose a basketball scholarship at the University of Virginia Union, in NCAA Division II. He became the best rebounder in Panthers history and finished his career by being voted “Division II Player of the Year” with 24 points and 17 catches per game.
Drafted in 1985 (9th choice) by Cleveland, his hometown, he was immediately traded and ended up in Chicago. Arguably one of the dumbest trades in US pro basketball history. Elected in the five of the rookies at the end of his first season, he continued in the next two with 163 games as a starter and an average of 13.4 points and 13 rebounds. That’s not enough to earn respect.
On June 27, 1988, he was therefore exchanged for the aging Bill Cartwright. Jordan may fume, the sequence of events will validate the Bulls’ risk-taking. Nevertheless, this transfer remains one of Oakley’s worst memories. This trade deprives him of an NBA title, a trophy he will never obtain. Maybe even three, those gleaned by Horace Grant after his departure. Maybe six. No one knows if during Jordan’s first retirement, he would have sought his fortune elsewhere, like Grant. No need to repeat history. During “MJ’s” first retirement, Oakley is in the right place at the right time, that is to say in the NBA Finals. We will not repeat either the outcome of this confrontation against the Rockets in 1994 (3-4). New York leads 3-2 in the series before losing the last two games, played in Houston, by 2 and 6 points.
During the following summer, Oakley no longer speaks of pain or disappointment. The only thing that makes him raise his voice is his salary. Paid 2 million dollars a year (the sum makes you smile today), he estimates that his value has increased every week. He deserves to win at least double, if only for the example he shows to his partners. ” I always tell them to think of only one thing: owning the ball. Concentrate in attack and empty in defense. »
He also has a message for his opponents. ” The guys in front must know that they are going to have a rough evening. If they are used to putting 30 points, I limit them to 15. After the match, they just want to put ice on their bruises and go to bed. I don’t want to hurt anyone but in an NBA game, you have to win. »
Generous on and off the pitch
In the mid-90s, Charles was single but not selfish. He opened a car wash and laundromat in his old neighborhood in Cleveland to create jobs. In New York, he supports many new artists. He creates “Oaktree Entertainment”, a record company, to produce new talents. Charles gives everything on and off the pitch. His generosity, as we have said, will never be rewarded. When it’s not Jordan making misery for the Knicks, it’s Reggie Miller. Or… Pat Riley with Miami.
In the summer of 1998, Charles Oakley was traded for rising Raptors insider Marcus Camby. Unfortunately, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady tend to step on each other’s toes. His career will end a bit in water pudding. Three years in Canada, one in Chicago, one in Washington (with Michael Jordan…), one in Houston…
With Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing (assistant coach) on the bench plus Mark Jackson as Steve Francis’ back-up, the “New York Family” is celebrating a great reunion. It was with the Rockets that he played his last game at age 40, in 2003-04. Regularly, the desire to return itches…
Retired a long time ago, he signed a 10-day contract with Houston, which brought smiles to the audience. In 2007, at the age of 44, he still affirmed that he was thinking of a comeback, that Dallas, Cleveland, New York and Miami were interested but that he would not return without a big check… Three years later, he found Michael Jordan to the Bobcats, this time as an assistant. A short-lived experience due to health issues…
Since then, he has been making headlines in New York newspapers as the sworn enemy of James Dolan, the sulphurous owner of the Knicks. In 2015, In 2015, he treated it publicly of “dirty guy”, while making a poetic reference to his parentage. Then in 2017, it’s the clash since Oakley is outright kicked out of the room in the middle of the match. A media court battle followed, and Charles Oakley, accused of assault, harassment and intrusion, had finally accepted an agreement to avoid trial by accepting in return not to return to the Knicks hall for a year. . Except that in the process, he had in turn filed a complaint against James Dolan for defamation, assault and forcible confinement…
Finally, a New York judge signaled the end of the game by dismissing the two parties, back to back.
Career Stats
19 years old
1,282 matches (1,159 times starter)
9.7 pts, 9.5 rbds, 2.5 pds, 1.1 int, 0.3 ct
47.1% on shots, 25.3% on 3 points, 76.1% on free throws
All Star: 1994
NBA All Rookie team: 1986
NBA All-Defensive First Team: 1994
NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 1998
His match at 26 pts, 35 rbds!
