Charles Oakley, Michael Jordan’s Good Friend, Preferred Knicks Legend Over Him as a Teammate

Michael Jordan spent most of his time active with the Chicago Bulls. However, many NBA greats who played with him were traded over the years. One of these individuals is Charles Oakley, who eventually ended up with the New York Knicks.

While he remains an iconic player, Oakley never took home a title. He was sent to the Knicks a few years before the Bulls won their first championship, and never managed to win one in New York either.

However, irrespective of that, Oakley does seem to have an NBA legend he prefers over Jordan.

Charles Barkley picks Patrick Ewing over Michael Jordan

While speaking to JJ Reddick and Tommy Alter on The Old Man and the Three, Oakley ended up speaking about Jordan and Patrick Ewing as his former teammates. Traded to the Knicks, Oakley did play in two different environments.

“I felt I was getting in a better situation. I was coming to New York. Patrick Ewing, you know, No. 1 draft pick in my class,” Oakley explained. He then spoke of playing with Jordan. As per the 58-year-old, playing alongside Jordan was ‘no place to be’.

In New York, he hoped for a title, especially with someone like Ewing on board. This was back when Jordan was yet to win a title, with teams like Detroit Pistons still in the way. “With Patrick in New York, I thought it was gonna be, like, we were gonna win two or three championships”.?

“We couldn’t get over the hump,” he added. Of course, it did not happen, and Oakley accepted to missing something.

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Are Oakley and Jordan friends?

Interestingly, Oakley is easily considered a close friend of Jordan’s. The two formed a bond, and have maintained their relationship over the years. The retired star has often spoken about Jordan and his matters, be it regarding Scottie Pippen or about Isiah Thomas.

Furthermore, Oakley was with the Knicks for years before moving on to the Toronto Raptors, the Bulls again, Washington Wizards, and the Houston Rockets. Averaging 9.7 points per game in his career, Oakley ended up retiring in 2004.

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That being said, Oakley’s words about Ewing and Jordan don’t seem reflective of his current relationship with Jordan. Having known each other for decades, the two NBA stars continue to remain friends even today.