NBA commissioner says Oakley Dolan feud remains unresolved

The long-running and public feud between former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley and team owner James Dolan remains unresolved, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed, revealing that even an intervention by Michael Jordan failed to broker peace. The commissioner made the remarks before Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, calling the ongoing situation unfortunate for the league.

The dispute stems from an incident in February 2017, when Oakley was involved in an altercation with security personnel while seated near Dolan at Madison Square Garden. The former player was forcibly removed, arrested, and initially faced misdemeanor charges, which were later dropped. Madison Square Garden subsequently banned Oakley from the arena, citing disruptive behavior, while Dolan publicly suggested Oakley had an alcohol problem, an accusation Oakley denied.

In the aftermath, Silver and Jordan, a close friend and former teammate of Oakley’s, attempted to mediate. A meeting was convened at league offices in 2017 with Dolan and Oakley, with Jordan participating by phone. Following that discussion, the formal ban from Madison Square Garden was lifted, and both sides expressed regret. However, the...