On February 2, Beijing time, according to US media reports, New York Knicks star Charles Oakley revealed in his new book that the reason why James refused to go to the Knicks was related to boss James Dolan.
At the time, during the 2014 New Orleans All-Star Weekend. Oakley, James, and Richie Paul meet and they meet William Wesley, who is now a Knicks executive.
According to Oakley's description, Paul Rich appears to be at odds with Wesley, and Paul Rich doesn't want to talk to Wesley or even shake hands with him.
Afterwards, Oakley said: "Anthony Mason and Patrick Ewing and I are always excluded from the Knicks, they never give us any important job opportunities, I don't know why, maybe we don't wag our tails like other people." ”
In addition, Oakley said that Dolan refused to shake hands when he saw him, and did not even want to look up at him. So Oakley told James all this: "People who don't know think I've done to Dolan and his wife!" What the hell did I do to Make Dolan make him ignore me so much? I couldn't understand it, I even wanted to punch him in the face. ”
"Remember that guy?" Latril-Spréville, the guy who had played for the Knicks for five seasons, scolded Dolan in front of the Dolans when he returned to MSG in 2003, but they remained friends. ”
Later, after hearing what happened to Oakley, James said very firmly: "That's why I definitely won't go to the Knicks."
It is worth mentioning that in James' career, he has been infinitely close to joining the Knicks twice. One in 2010 and the other in 2018. However, this did not work out in the end.
According to previous sources, James rejected the Knicks in 2018 because The elder James's wife, Sabana, insisted on going to Los Angeles. However, judging from Oakley's autobiography, James's reluctance to go to the Knicks still has a lot to do with Dolan!