Charles Oakley
Encyclopedia
Charles Oakley is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 player and is currently an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...

 of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

. Oakley, a former power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...

, was a member of the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...

, New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

, Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

, Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...

 and Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...


Playing career

Oakley was born in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

, and attended Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...

.

He placed in the top ten in rebounds per game five times between 1987 and 1994 (second in 1987 and 1988). In all but one of these seasons he played the full complement of 82 games. Due to his durability he actually placed in the top ten in total rebounds 6 times and led the league in total rebounds twice (1987 and 1988). In 1994, he became an NBA All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...

 and was chosen to the league's All-Defense 1st team.

Drafted in 1985
1985 NBA Draft
The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. A total of 162 players were selected over 7 rounds by the league's 23 teams. The New York Knicks were awarded the first overall pick, by winning the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery, which was held...

 by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...

, Oakley's draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls. Oakley provided another scoring option and steady offensive and defensive performances to an up-and-coming Bulls squad led by Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...

. He earned All-Rookie Team honors in 1986.

With the drafting and development of Horace Grant, the Bulls traded Oakley to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 for 7'1" center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...

 Bill Cartwright. Oakley eventually became a part of the core which the Knicks built around, which also featured Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...

, John Starks
John Starks (basketball)
John Levell Starks is a former American professional basketball shooting guard. Starks was listed at 6'5" and 190 pounds during his NBA playing career...

, and point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...

 Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson (basketball)
Mark A. Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career...

. During the Knicks' 1994 season, which included a record 25 playoff games, Oakley started every regular season and playoff game for a record 107 starts in a single season.

In 1998, Oakley was traded by New York to the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...

 for blossoming star Marcus Camby
Marcus Camby
Marcus D. Camby is an American professional basketball player, who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year during the 2006–07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game...

. For the Raptors, he provided a veteran presence to a young team that included Vince Carter
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....

 and Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons.Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto...

. Oakley, in his final three seasons, played for the Bulls again, followed by the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...

 and the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...

. For the Rockets, he was briefly reunited with former Knicks personnel Mark Jackson, who was the veteran point guard behind Steve Francis
Steve Francis
Steven D'Shawn Francis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He had also played for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks...

; Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...

, who was an assistant coach with the Rockets; and head coach Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy
Jeffrey William "Jeff" Van Gundy is a former American basketball head coach. He coached most recently with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets...

, former head coach in Oakley's days in New York City.

As recently as 2007, it was publicized that Oakley, at age 44, wanted to make an NBA comeback. He claimed Dallas
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...

, Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...

, Cleveland and New York were interested but said he would "not [come] back cheap". He was hired as assistant coach of the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...

 on December 23, 2010. Oakley currently ranks 14th all-time in NBA games played with 1,282 games.

Personal life

In 2011, Oakley filed a lawsuit against the Aria Resort & Casino
ARIA Resort & Casino
Aria Resort & Casino is a luxury resort and casino located within the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center. It opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World...

 in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...

, alleging a group assault by five security guards employed by the casino on May 28, 2010.

Regular season

|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...


| 77 || 30 || 23.0 || .519 || .000 || .662 || 8.6 || 1.7 || .9 || .4 || 9.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
| 82 || 81 || 36.3 || .445 || .367 || .686 || 13.1 || 3.6 || 1.0 || .4 || 14.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
| 82 || 82 || 34.3 || .483 || .250 || .727 || 13.0 || 3.0 || .8 || .3 || 12.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...


| 82 || 82 || 31.8 || .510 || .250 || .773 || 10.5 || 2.3 || 1.3 || .2 || 12.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 61 || 61 || 36.0 || .524 || .000 || .761 || 11.9 || 2.4 || 1.0 || .3 || 14.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 76 || 74 || 36.0 || .516 || .000 || .784 || 12.1 || 2.7 || .8 || .2 || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 82 || 28.2 || .522 || .000 || .735 || 8.5 || 1.6 || .8 || .2 || 6.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 82 || 27.2 || .508 || .000 || .722 || 8.6 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .2 || 6.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 82 || 82 || 35.8 || .478 || .000 || .776 || 11.8 || 2.7 || 1.3 || .2 || 11.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 50 || 49 || 31.3 || .489 || .250 || .793 || 8.9 || 2.5 || 1.2 || .1 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 53 || 51 || 33.5 || .471 || .269 || .833 || 8.7 || 2.6 || 1.1 || .3 || 11.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 80 || 80 || 35.9 || .488 || .263 || .808 || 9.8 || 2.8 || 1.4 || .3 || 10.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 79 || 79 || 34.6 || .440 || .000 || .851 || 9.2 || 2.5 || 1.6 || .3 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...


| 50 || 50 || 32.9 || .428 || .200 || .807 || 7.5 || 3.4 || .9 || .4 || 7.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
| 80 || 80 || 30.4 || .418 || .341 || .776 || 6.8 || 3.2 || 1.3 || .6 || 6.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
| 78 || 77 || 35.5 || .388 || .224 || .836 || 9.5 || 3.4 || 1.0 || .6 || 9.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...


| 57 || 26 || 34.3 || .369 || .167 || .750 || 6.0 || 2.0 || .9 || .2 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Washington
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...


| 42 || 1 || 12.2 || .418 || – || .824 || 2.5 || 1.0 || .3 || .1 || 1.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...


| 7 || 0 || 3.6 || .333 || – || .833 || .7 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 1.3
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| All-Star
| 1 || 0 || 11.0 || .333 || – || – || 3.0 || 3.0 || .0 || .0 || 2.0
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Career
| 1,282 || 1,159 || 31.4 || .471 || .253 || .761 || 9.5 || 2.5 || 1.1 || .3 || 9.7

Playoffs

|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1986
1986 NBA Playoffs
The 1986 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1985-86 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets, four games to two, in the NBA Finals. The Celtics won...


| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...


| 3 || – || 29.3 || .524 || – || .615 || 10.0 || 1.0 || 2.0 || .7 || 10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1987
1987 NBA Playoffs
The 1987 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1986-1987 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics four games to two in the Finals...


| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
| 3 || – || 43.0 || .380 || .500 || .833 || 15.3 || 2.0 || 1.3 || .3 || 20.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1988
1988 NBA Playoffs
The 1988 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987-1988 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons four games to three in the Finals...


| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago
| 10 || – || 37.3 || .440 || .000 || .875 || 12.8 || 3.2 || .6 || .4 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1989
1989 NBA Playoffs
The 1989 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988-89 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers, who were severely hampered by injuries, four...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...


| 9 || – || 33.2 || .479 || .500 || .667 || 11.2 || 1.2 || 1.3 || .1 || 9.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1990
1990 NBA Playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989-1990 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons successfully defending their championship by beating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 10 || – || 33.6 || .512 || 1.000 || .654 || 11.0 || 2.7 || 1.1 || .2 || 12.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1991
1991 NBA Playoffs
The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1990–91 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship via a four-games-to-one victory over the Western Conference champion Los...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 3 || 3 || 33.3 || .476 || – || .500 || 10.3 || 1.0 || .7 || .3 || 7.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1992
1992 NBA Playoffs
NBA Champions: Chicago BullsThe 1992 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-1992 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Western...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 12 || 12 || 29.5 || .379 || – || .741 || 9.0 || .7 || .7 || .4 || 5.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1993
1993 NBA Playoffs
The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992-1993 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their third consecutive championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns four...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 15 || 15 || 33.8 || .481 || – || .727 || 11.0 || 1.1 || 1.1 || .1 || 11.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1994
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 25 || 25 || 39.7 || .477 || – || .775 || 11.7 || 2.4 || 1.4 || .2 || 13.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1995
1995 NBA Playoffs
The 1995 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994-1995 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 11 || 11 || 38.3 || .450 || .400 || .824 || 8.5 || 3.7 || 1.7 || .5 || 13.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1996
1996 NBA Playoffs
The 1996 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1995-1996 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship in three years by defeating the Western Conference champion Seattle...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 8 || 8 || 38.5 || .500 || .333 || .694 || 8.6 || 1.8 || 1.0 || .0 || 13.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1997
1997 NBA Playoffs
The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1996–97 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning the NBA championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazzfour games to two...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 10 || 10 || 35.8 || .442 || .000 || .759 || 8.8 || 1.6 || 2.2 || .3 || 9.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1998
1998 NBA Playoffs
The 1998 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997-98 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their sixth championship of the decade by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz four...


| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 10 || 10 || 34.2 || .408 || – || .920 || 8.5 || 1.4 || 1.1 || .2 || 8.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2000
2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999–2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship in twelve years by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers...


| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...


| 3 || 3 || 36.7 || .483 || .286 || .000 || 7.7 || 3.7 || 2.0 || .3 || 10.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2001
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...


| style="text-align:left;"| Toronto
| 12 || 12 || 32.6 || .435 || .375 || .824 || 6.3 || 1.8 || 1.0 || .6 || 9.3
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" colspan=2| Career
| 144 || – || 35.5 || .459 || .366 || .755 || 10.0 || 2.0 || 1.2 || .3 || 10.8

See also


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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