Charles Oakley facts for kids
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Oakley in 2007
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 18, 1963 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school | John Hay (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Virginia Union (1981–1985) |
| NBA Draft | 1985 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall |
| Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Pro career | 1985–2004 |
| Coaching career | 2010–2011 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1985–1988 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1988–1998 | New York Knicks |
| 1998–2001 | Toronto Raptors |
| 2001–2002 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2002–2003 | Washington Wizards |
| 2004 | Houston Rockets |
| As coach: | |
| 2010–2011 | Charlotte Bobcats (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 12,417 (9.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 12,205 (9.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,217 (2.5 apg) |
Charles Oakley (born December 18, 1963) is a famous American former professional basketball player. He played for 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Oakley is best known for spending 10 of those seasons with the New York Knicks.
As a power forward, he was known as one of the best rebounders and defensive players in the NBA. He also played for the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets. Since 2017, he has been a coach for the Killer 3's team in the BIG3 league.
Contents
Early Life and College Career
Growing Up in Cleveland
Charles Oakley was born on December 18, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up there and went to John Hay High School. He was a very good basketball player in high school.
College Success at Virginia Union
Oakley attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. This was a Division II historically black university. In his senior year (1984–85), Oakley led Virginia Union to win the 1985 NCAA championship. His team had an amazing 31–1 record that year. Oakley averaged 24 points and 17.3 rebounds per game. He was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. During his college career, he scored 2,379 points and grabbed 1,642 rebounds.
Professional Basketball Career
Chicago Bulls (1985–1988)
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked Oakley 9th overall in the 1985 NBA draft. However, his draft rights were quickly traded to the Chicago Bulls. He joined an exciting Bulls team led by young superstar Michael Jordan. Oakley brought strong offense and defense to the team. On March 15, 1986, he scored a career-high 35 points. He was also chosen for the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1986.
Oakley also became known as the team's "enforcer." His main job was to protect Michael Jordan from rough play by opposing players. People called him "Oak Tree" because he was tough and serious. On April 26, 1987, he scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a playoff game.
New York Knicks (1988–1998)
The Bulls traded Oakley to the New York Knicks in 1988. He became a key player for the Knicks, alongside stars like Patrick Ewing and John Starks.
During the 1994 season, Oakley started every regular season and playoff game. This was a record 107 starts in one season. In the NBA Finals that year, Oakley averaged 11 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The Knicks lost in a close seven-game series to the Houston Rockets.
Oakley was a great player for the Knicks. He was known throughout the league for his strong defense and amazing rebounding skills. On March 11, 1998, he grabbed a season-high 22 rebounds.
Toronto Raptors (1998–2001)
In 1998, the Knicks traded Oakley to the Toronto Raptors. He brought valuable experience to a young team with players like Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. On January 7, 2001, Oakley had 6 blocks, 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in a game.
Return to Chicago (2001–2002)
In 2001, Oakley was traded back to the Chicago Bulls. This was his second time playing for the Bulls. He played 57 games, starting 36 of them.
Washington Wizards (2002–2003)
In 2002, Oakley joined the Washington Wizards. Here, he played again with his former teammate Michael Jordan. Oakley played 42 games during the 2002–03 season.
Houston Rockets (2004)
The 2003–04 season was Oakley's last in the NBA. He signed with the Houston Rockets in March 2004. He played 7 games before retiring from the NBA at the end of the season.
Coaching and Businesses
Coaching Career
On December 26, 2010, Oakley became an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats. He worked under head coach Paul Silas. He left this coaching role in December 2011 due to back pain.
Business Ventures
Charles Oakley also owns several businesses. These include:
- Hair Solutions and Nails EtCetera: Salons in Cleveland, Ohio, run by his sisters.
- Oakley's car wash, oil change, and detail centers: Located in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn and Yonkers, New York.
- Oakley's Wash House: A car wash and laundromat in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Red, The Steakhouse: Restaurants in Cleveland, Ohio, and South Beach, Miami, Florida.
Legacy and Recognition
Hall of Fame Inductions
Oakley was honored for his long basketball career. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on April 30, 2016. In 2005, he was also inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame for his college career at Virginia Union University.
Street Renaming
In September 2016, a part of Deering Street in Cleveland, Oakley's hometown, was renamed Charles Oakley Way. This street is near his old high school, John Hay High School.
Career Highlights
- He was one of the best rebounders in the league. He ranked in the top ten for rebounds per game five times between 1987 and 1994. He led the league in total rebounds twice (1987 and 1988).
- In 1994, he was chosen as an NBA All-Star. He was also selected for the NBA's All-Defense 1st team.
- Oakley played 1,282 games in his career, which ranks him 25th all-time in the NBA.
- He is 22nd all-time in career rebounds with 12,205 rebounds.
Personal Life
On July 30, 2016, Charles Oakley married Angela Reed.
Madison Square Garden Incident
On February 8, 2017, Oakley was involved in an incident at Madison Square Garden. This happened during a Knicks game. The Knicks stated that Oakley was removed for being disruptive. Oakley, however, said he was just sitting in his seat when security asked him to leave without a clear reason. He admitted he should not have put his hands on anyone during the situation.
Later, NBA legend Michael Jordan and NBA commissioner Adam Silver met with Oakley and James L. Dolan, the Knicks owner. Both Oakley and Dolan apologized for the incident and its negative impact. The ban from Madison Square Garden was lifted the next day. Oakley later filed a civil lawsuit about the incident, which was still ongoing in 2022. He also shared that his relationship with the Knicks had been difficult even before this event.
Images for kids
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Oakley in 2007
See also
- List of NBA career games played leaders
- List of NBA career rebounding leaders
- List of NBA career turnovers leaders
- List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
- List of NBA career minutes played leaders
- List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders
- List of NBA single-game rebounding leaders
- List of NBA seasons played leaders
- List of oldest and youngest NBA players
