Report: Adam Silver, Michael Jordan trying to mediate James Dolan-Charles Oakley truce

ByABC News
February 13, 2017, 7:11 PM

— -- Charles Oakley remains banned indefinitely from Madison Square Garden, but the NBA has stepped in to try to broker a truce between Knicks owner James Dolan and Charles Oakley, the New York Daily News reported?Monday.

According to the report,?NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Hornets owner Michael Jordan have spoken with Oakley and Dolan to mediate a resolution between the two parties.

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 is unclear whether Oakley and Dolan have talked directly since Oakley was ejected from Madison Square Garden and subsequently arrested last Wednesday.

But there is 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.