'I don't have to lie about nothing': New York Knicks star Charles Oakley, 54, says he was unfairly targeted during arrest after 'hurling abuse at team owner and punching three guards'
- Charles Oakley has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of criminal trespassing following an incident on Wednesday
- The former New York Knicks great allegedly attacked three security guards who had been tasked with forcibly removing him from the arena
- Oakley, 54, was asked to leave after he got into an argument with Knicks owner Jim Dolan
- 'I didn’t do nothing … this is bulls***,' said Oakley while being escorted out of the arena
- He later stated that he was unfairly targeted in the incident, though some in attendance claimed that he smelled of alcohol
- Tennis great John McEnroe was seen trying to calm Oakley throughout the incident, and left the arena with him when he was escorted out
Former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley says he was doing nothing wrong on Wednesday night when security guards demanded he leave a game at Madison Square Garden.
Oakley is facing assault charges after he allegedly attacked three of the security guards who tried to remove him following an incident with team owner James Dolan.
In an interview after his arrest, Oakley said: 'What happened, me and four friends went to the game tonight to watch the Knicks and the Clippers. Get there, sit down, try to have a good time, next thing I know I was asked to leave the building.
'I asked why and they said you have to leave cause someone ordered you to leave., And I was like I've been here for four-and-a-half minutes, I'm a Knicks fan, I played here for 10 years. I love the Knicks, I love New York. I want to know why I'm not welcome into the Garden.
'Phil [Jackson] came in the back, Spike Lee came in the back. Phil was like, what happened. I said Phil, I came in here four-and-a-half minutes go, what could I do in four-and-half minutes
'Things happen. I'm a grown man. I can fight my battles. I'm a guy who tells the truth, I don't have to lie about nothing. I'm an honest guy.'
He later added of the security guards: 'More and more kept coming at me, and I was like, "Why do I have to leave?" They said I had to leave. They got ordered.
'I was on my back. Total disrespect.'
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![Oakley (above telling his side of the story) says he was unfairly targeted during an incident that has led to him being charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3D01D27100000578-0-Speaking_out_Charles_Oakley_above_says_he_was_unfairly_targeted_-m-5_1486654107828.jpg)
Speaking out: Charles Oakley (above in apology video) says he was unfairly targeted during an incident that has led to him being charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault
![Witnesses claimed that New York Knicks icon Charles Oakley (pictured) went on a verbal rant hurling abuse at franchise owner, James Dolan, police and white people, before getting physical with three security guards](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/17/3D022CB000000578-4208462-image-a-5_1486661577069.jpg)
Fighting back: The former New York Knicks great allegedly attacked three security guards who had been tasked with forcibly removing him from the arena
![Charles Oakley is handcuffed by NYPD](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/03/3CFC362500000578-4206324-image-m-103_1486611029560.jpg)
![Authorities wrestled Oakley to the ground. He was cuffed by officers as other fans looked on in horror](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/03/3CFC362900000578-4206324-image-a-104_1486611035470.jpg)
Wrestled to the ground: Oakley struggled with the guards and was cuffed by officers as other fans looked on in horror
Oakley is accused of shoving and punching the men while they attempted to forcibly remove him from his seat during the first quarter of the Knicks' game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
That measure was taken after Oakley allegedly spent the opening minutes of the game loudly heckling Dolan, a claim that he denies.
The melee drew the attention of the players on the court and the crowd, and soon began to chant 'Oakley! Oakley!' in support of the power player.
'F*** that, let me go,' said Oakley in video shot as he was being removed from the arena.
'I didn’t do nothing … this is bulls***.'
Tennis great John McEnroe, a man infamous for his on court temper tantrums, could be seen trying to calm Oakley down while he was being taken out of the arena.
Others in attendance on Wednesday night included Chris Rock, Aziz Ansari, Michael J Fox and wife Tracy Pollan, Bobby Cannavale, Jason Biggs and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
![Knicks owner James Dolan (above) banned Oakley from MSG and fired head of security for the arena following the incident](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/03/3CFBE8B300000578-4206324-image-a-79_1486610032633.jpg)
Security was called after Oakley was shouting at Knicks owner James Dolan (above)
When asked what happened on Twitter Thursday morning, Biggs joked: 'I guess Oakley thought I called him a name and then he got mad and tried to charge at me but security intervened, you know same old story.'
Dolan has yet to speak out publicly.
'On Wednesday February 8, 2017 at approximately 2030 hours, inside of 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (Madison Square Garden), a 54 year-old male was taken into custody after he assaulted 3 males employed by MSG,' said the NYPD in a statement.
'The preliminary investigation determined that the 54-year-old male was causing a disturbance and was asked to leave.
'The male refused to leave and punched 3 male employees as he was escorted out. The employees suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene. The male was subsequently taken into custody.'
He has been charged with three counts of assault in the third degree and one count of criminal trespass in the third degree.
Oakley received a desk appearance ticket and declined his right to legal representation at the police station.
The moment he was dragged away from his seat was first captured by Ian Schafer, who posted a video to Twitter.
Multiple sources who spoke to the New York Post meanwhile said Oakley 'smelled of alcohol.'
![At the time of the incident, tennis great John McEnroe (above) was seen trying to calm Oakley and left the arena with him when he was escorted out](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/14/3D016FE300000578-4206324-Helpoign_hand_Tennis_great_John_McEnroe_was_seen_trying_to_calm_-m-6_1486650676268.jpg)
Helping hand: Tennis great John McEnroe (above) was seen trying to calm Oakley throughout the incident, and left the arena with him when he was escorted out
![John McEnroe and Oakley](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3D01A0EE00000578-4206324-John_McEnroe_and_Oakley-a-13_1486652545000.jpg)
![McEnroe calms Oakley](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3D01A0F800000578-4206324-McEnroe_calms_Oakley-m-12_1486652538696.jpg)
Soothing presence: McEnroe could be seen on video repeatedly telling Oakley to stay calm (above)
![Boys: Chris Rock, Bobby Cannavale and Aziz Ansari at the game on Wednesday night (above)](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3CFFC98100000578-4208462-image-a-12_1486655213282.jpg)
Boys: Chris Rock, Bobby Cannavale and Aziz Ansari at the game on Wednesday night (above)
![Jason Biggs](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3CFE12E600000578-4208462-image-a-15_1486655225574.jpg)
![Spike Lee](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3CFE048E00000578-4208462-image-a-16_1486655226248.jpg)
Good times: Jason Biggs (left) and lifelong Knicks fan Spike Lee (right) were also in attendance
![Happy times: Aziz Ansari and his guest sit with Tracey Pollan and her husband Michael J Fox (above)](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/15/3CFFC85800000578-4208462-image-a-17_1486655289786.jpg)
Happy times: Aziz Ansari and his guest sit with Tracey Pollan and her husband Michael J Fox (above)
The Knicks addressed the incident shortly after Oakley was escorted out of the arena on Wednesday evening.
'Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner,' the team wrote in a statement which they later released on Twitter.
'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 altercation took place just a few rows behind the court during a stoppage in play as Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis was shooting free throws.
Security was called to Oakley's seat after he was shouting at Dolan and made a number of comments that allegedly upset the owner, who was sitting in front of him in his usual courtside seat.
Oakley was handcuffed near an arena exit as he waited for police to arrive, while McEnroe stood just behind him trying to keep him calm.
Fans could be heard telling Oakley 'it's not worth it' as he lashed out at the security guards who tried to control him and get him out of the arena without incident.
At one point Oakley looked over at one individual and plainly said: 'It is worth it.'
That is when he began to scream about how the entire incident was 'bulls***' and ask what he did that caused this response.
![Charles Oakley](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/06/3CFD084900000578-4206324-image-m-27_1486621863540.jpg)
![Charles Oakley](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/06/3CFD084D00000578-4206324-image-a-28_1486621877287.jpg)
Oakley (above being booked at a Manhattan precinct) appeared to be in good spirits while cracking a smile and conversing with the police officers
![Dolan said in an interview that Oakley (pictured at NYPD station) 'has a problem'. Multiple sources said Oakley 'smelled of alcohol' while at the game](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/06/3CFD084100000578-4206324-image-a-23_1486621808696.jpg)
Oakley was later seen at a Midtown Manhattan police precinct being processed and charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of criminal trespassing
![Charles Oakley](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/03/3CFC0F7600000578-4206324-image-m-113_1486611605106.jpg)
![Charles Oakley](http://web.archive.org./web/20170216052903/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/09/03/3CFC0F5A00000578-4206324-image-m-114_1486611619020.jpg)
Usually, teams provide free tickets to their former players as a courtesy for past service. But given the frayed nature of the relationship between Oakley (above) and current Knicks management, the beloved ex-power forward was forced to buy his tickets
The incident made headlines around the world and 'Oakley' was a trending topic on social media.
Almost everyone who commented seemed to be on hi side as well, supporting his tirade against Dolan, who has over the years become despised by many Knicks fans.
Oakley was also getting support from his NBA colleagues on social media.
LeBron James posted an image of Oakley on Instagram under the caption: 'Mood!' and the word 'Legend.'
- SportsBlogNewYork (@SportBlogNYC) on Twitter
- Security drags Charles Oakley out of Knicks game in unreal scene | New York Post
- Ryan Field on Twitter: "UPDATE: @ABC7NY has learned, per NYPD, Charles Oakley will be charged with three counts of assault. #Knicks"
- SEE IT: Charles Oakley arrested after fighting in stands at MSG - NY Daily News
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