Charles Oakley is at odds with his former New York Knicks teammate Patrick Ewing.
Speaking in a recent interview, Oakley delivered some of his harshest comments yet about the Hall of Fame center, saying he no longer has any interest in repairing their fractured friendship.
"For Patrick not to be man enough to come and talk to me after having his back for 10 years, he's a coward," Oakley said.
The remarks stem from years of tension between the former Knicks stars, whose relationship reportedly deteriorated following Oakley's infamous 2017 altercation at Madison Square Garden.
Oakley was forcibly removed from the arena and later arrested after an incident involving security personnel. The episode sparked widespread debate across the basketball world, with many former players publicly defending Oakley.
According to Oakley, Ewing's lack of support during that period permanently damaged their friendship.
When asked whether there was any chance the relationship could be repaired, Oakley didn't hesitate. "Naw, naw, naw," he said.
Oakley pointed to a more recent encounter as the final breaking point. He recalled attending a playoff game in Cleveland while Ewing was also in the building and claimed the Knicks legend ignored him despite their long history together.
"The last straw was when he was in Cleveland," Oakley said. "He knew I was at the game and didn't speak to me."
The former power forward suggested the perceived snub was especially painful given how close the two once were during their playing days.
"As many times as he's been to my mother's house, he can't speak to me?" Oakley said. "I'm drawing lines."
Oakley and Ewing spent a decade together as teammates in New York, helping lead the Knicks to multiple deep playoff runs throughout the 1990s. Their partnership became one of the defining relationships of that era, with Oakley serving as the team's emotional and physical backbone while Ewing anchored the franchise on the court.
Despite that history, Oakley indicated he no longer views Ewing in the same light. "I played with him for 10 years," he said. "He's just not a good person."
The comments come as the Knicks enjoy one of their most successful stretches in years, with the franchise once again competing on the NBA's biggest stage. Even amid the excitement surrounding the team, Oakley remains estranged from several key figures connected to the organization.
He also addressed recent speculation that NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Michael Jordan had helped facilitate peace talks between himself and Dolan. Oakley clarified that, while discussions occurred years ago, there has been little meaningful communication between the sides since then, aside from ongoing legal matters.
