Charles Oakley
Charles Oakley, pictured at Ricardo Tormo race track in the Spanish eastern town of Cheste on Nov. 6, 2005, was arrested Wednesday night. Reuters

The dysfunction that’s defined the New York Knicks reached its peak Wednesday night. Former Knick Charles Oakley was involved in an altercation with Madison Square Garden security in the first quarter of the team’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and he was eventually arrested after being escorted from the arena.

Oakley, who played with the team from 1988-1998, had been sitting near the floor just a few rows behind team owner James Dolan. After being surrounding by security, Oakley became agitated and started shoving multiple guards. A stunned Garden crowd and a nationally televised audience watched Oakley being taken to the ground as security removed him from the premises.

The Knicks and Oakley have different versions of what exactly happened. Both Garden and police sources told The New York Daily News that Oakley was yelling at Dolan, which forced security to step in.

“Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner,” the Knicks said in a statement. “He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help soon.”

The Knicks were a perennial contender when Oakley played for the team, reaching the playoffs in every season. But New York has since become one of the NBA’s laughingstocks, and Oakley has not been shy with his criticism of the owner.

Oakley, however, claims he didn’t say anything to Dolan and was approached by security after sitting in his seat for only a short time.

“I was there for four minutes,” Oakley told The Daily News. “I didn’t say anything to him. I swear on my mother. They came over and wanted to know why I was sitting there. I bought the ticket. I said why do you guys keep staring at me. Then they asked me to leave. And I said I’m not leaving.”

Oakley was reportedly charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one charge of criminal trespass. He was released from New York City’s Midtown South precinct just before midnight.

Wednesday’s incident was just the Knicks’ most recent off-the-court distraction. One day earlier, team president Phil Jackson tweeted about an article that was critical of Carmelo Anthony, implying that he agreed New York’s star forward would never be a winner. The Knicks are reportedly trying to deal Anthony, who has a no-trade clause and has said he wants to stay in New York.

Following Oakley’s arrest, the Knicks lost to the Clippers, dropping them to 22-32 and 12th place in the Eastern Conference.

Oakley was known for his toughness on the court, and his style of play characterized the Knicks of the early 1990s. Two decades later, his behavior in the stands mirrors the mess that the organization has become.

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