Naughty Knick Oakley invited back to Garden

NBA commissioner Adam Silver met New York Knicks legend Charles Oakley and team owner Jim Dolan on Monday in an effort to end a spectacular public feud that has gripped the league.

Oakley was tossed from the Knicks' Madison Square Garden home last Wednesday and subsequently banned from the venue by Dolan after a confrontation with security staff.

Silver appeared to have brokered a peace deal after meeting Oakley and Dolan in New York along with Michael Jordan, who took part via a conference call.

"It is beyond disheartening to see situations involving members of the NBA family like the one that occurred at Madison Square Garden this past week," Silver said in a statement.

"In an effort to find a path forward, Knicks owner Jim Dolan, Charles Oakley and I met at the league office, along with Michael Jordan, who participated by phone.

"Mr Oakley and Mr Dolan were apologetic about the incident and subsequent comments.

"Mr. Dolan expressed his hope that Mr. Oakley would return to MSG as his guest in the near future."

Oakley, 53, took a swipe at security personnel trying to remove him from his seat, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault and criminal trespass.

The Knicks said later Oakley was abusive, describing his claim that he was told to leave the arena for no apparent reason as "pure fiction".

However the sight of Oakley, a star for the Knicks from 1988-98, being herded out provoked a backlash from former and current players.

Agencies