The highly publicized feud between former All-Star Charles Oakley and the New York Knicks appears to be moving in the right direction, with the organization extending an olive branch to Oakley after the Knicks legend lost his case in court against owner James Dolan.

According to a recent write-up by Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, Oakley's ban from entering the Madison Square Garden after being thrown out from the same building some three years ago has been lifted. The 56-year-old can set foot in the Mecca once again if he so wishes, according to a MSG spokesperson.

Oakley still isn't sure how a trip back to MSG would go, though, as he wonders whether he'd actually be welcomed back with open arms. Oakley does now have a friend within the organization, with the Knicks recently hiring his longtime buddy, Steve Stoute, as a branding consultant. Stoute opened up about his friend's situation with New York and admitted that he hopes that this problem sorts itself out sooner rather than later:

“Charles Oakley is a very dear friend of mine,” Stoute said on ESPN recently. “I’ve known Charles since I was 21 years old. I didn’t like what happened, what took place. I wish it could be different.

“I would love to see that [issue resolved]. As a New York fan, as a friend of Charles Oakley, as somebody brought in the Knicks organization, of course I would love to see that subside and bring that back. Charles Oakley is a very big part of New York, he’s a fabric of what the New York Knicks have stood for for many years. That toughness, resourcefulness, by any means necessary attitude.”

Oakley played 10 seasons in New York between 1988 and 1998. He holds career averages with the team of 10.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per ballgame.