Adam Silver, Michael Jordan step in to mediate James Dolan-Charles Oakley truce
— -- The NBA has stepped in to broker a truce between Knicks owner James Dolan and Charles Oakley that includes apologies from both parties over the fallout from Oakley's arrest after an altercation with security guards last Wednesday, commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement Monday.
"In an effort to find a path forward, New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan, Charles Oakley, and I met today at the league office, along with [Hornets owner] Michael Jordan, who participated by phone," the statement read.?
"Both Mr. Oakley and Mr. Dolan were apologetic about the incident and subsequent comments, and their negative impact on the Knicks organization and the NBA," Silver said. "Mr. Dolan expressed his hope that Mr. Oakley would return to MSG as his guest in the near future."
Silver's statement singled out Oakley, Dolan and Jordan's efforts for all coming together to "work towards a resolution of this matter."
Earlier Monday, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN's Ian Begley that there has been "some momentum toward a resolution" between Oakley and Dolan, thanks to recent conversation between both sides.
It had been unclear until the NBA statement was issued whether Oakley and Dolan had talked directly since Oakley was ejected from Madison Square Garden and subsequently arrested last Wednesday.
But it was clear there was a desire among people close to both parties to bring the public dispute between Oakley, one of the franchise's most popular players, and Dolan, to rest, sources say.
Both the Knicks and Oakley's spokesperson, Akhtar Farzaie, declined comment when asked Monday afternoon about any potential resolution between the Knicks and Oakley.
Dolan announced last week that Oakley was banned indefinitely from the Knicks' home arena after he was ejected from last Wednesday's game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Knicks. Oakley was arrested and charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of misdemeanor trespassing. Dolan said the organization ejected Oakley because he was being verbally abusive to security while seated near the team owner. Oakley denied this in recent interviews.
After the incident, Dolan also suggested in multiple media interviews that Oakley has a drinking problem, which Oakley denied on Saturday in an interview with the New York Post.
The Knicks and Dolan have received criticism for the decision to ban Oakley and the public suggestion that he has a drinking problem.
On Monday, the Rev. Al Sharpton called on Dolan to immediately lift the ban against Oakley. In a statement, Sharpton said that in the event that the ban is not lifted, his National Action Network will organize a group to picket outside of Madison Square Garden.
ESPN's Ian Begley contributed to this report.
