Former NBA star Charles Oakley, once the gritty heartbeat of the New York Knicks, has been ordered to pay about $642,000 to the Madison Square Garden Company.
A federal judge ruled that Oakley, the husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Angela Oakley, must cover part of MSG’s legal fees related to a lawsuit that stemmed from his infamous 2017 ejection from Madison Square Garden.
The incident, which made national headlines, showed Oakley being forcefully removed from his courtside seat after a confrontation near Dolan.
At the time, the Knicks issued a harsh statement claiming Oakley’s behavior had been “abusive,” while Oakley insisted he had done nothing wrong and was unfairly targeted.
Following the ejection, Oakley was arrested and charged with assault and trespassing. The charges were dismissed, but the emotional and reputational fallout lingered. Oakley filed a civil suit against MSG, arguing that his name and career were tarnished by owner James Dolan’s actions and Dolan’s public insinuation that the retired player might have a drinking problem.
In response, MSG sought reimbursement for its legal fees, saying Oakley’s side had prolonged the litigation unnecessarily. The judge didn’t grant the full amount requested by MSG, but Oakley was still ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars. His attorney, Valdi Licul, vowed to appeal, calling the decision “wrong on principle.”