In light of Spike Lee's verbal dispute with authorities at Madison Square Garden earlier this week, former Knicks big man Charles Oakley is asking the NBA to address the way James Dolan runs the team.
“It's got to be stopped in some kind of way,” Oakley told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday night. “The NBA has got to take a look at this. You can't keep closing your eyes to this. This is like, turn your head if you see someone beat somebody up and you just keep walking.”
Prior to Monday’s game, Lee made his way into The Garden by way of an employee entrance. According to an official statement that was released after the incident, the Knicks had previously asked the legendary director to use a special VIP entrance. It was this simple mistake that led to the drama.
Lee, who says he won't be attending any more Knicks games at The Garden this season, later noted that he has used the same entrance for years:
“No one told me!” Lee was heard yelling in the video clip. “I’m staying right here! Now if you want to arrest me like Charles Oakley, then go ahead!”
Director Spike Lee denied entry to MSG. Rumors are circulating that MSG CEO James Dolan didn’t want the famed director to enter. #SpikeLee #MSG pic.twitter.com/0gZVaHDXBP
— BroTalkLive (@brotalklive) March 3, 2020
Oakley, now 57 years of age, is no stranger to drama with the Knicks. The former New York rim protector was arrested after an altercation with security officials in 2017. Oakley later sued Dolan and Madison Square Garden, but the case was dismissed last month, according to ESPN.
“It just keeps happening in New York,” Oakley said. “People are not going to come here because it's the same thing over and over and over. They got a new president, and all everyone is talking about what happened between Spike Lee and the Garden.”
The Knicks have struggled to find any sort of rhythm this season, as their 19-42 overall record can attest. And with the regular season coming to an end sooner rather than later, New York appears to be out of the playoff hunt once again.
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