Charles Oakley Drops Shocking Details on Why Knicks Failed to Recruit Lebron James: “Rich Felt Wes Had Tried to F— Him Over”
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Charles Oakley Drops Shocking Details on Why Knicks Failed to Recruit Lebron James: “Rich Felt Wes Had Tried to F— Him Over”
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Charles Baus/CSM/Shutterstock (10055402ed) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in attendance during the NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California NFL NFC Divisional Playoff Cowboys vs Rams, Los Angeles, USA – 12 Jan 2019 | Courtesy: Reuters
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Charles Baus/CSM/Shutterstock (10055402ed) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in attendance during the NFC Divisional Round playoff game between the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California NFL NFC Divisional Playoff Cowboys vs Rams, Los Angeles, USA – 12 Jan 2019 | Courtesy: Reuters
When one talks about the trade market, LeBron James is always in the mix. Fans and analysts are always busy speculating whether he is going to end his career in Los Angeles or is there another twist in the saga. With all the trade talk going on, one of the craziest trade stories has come to the light.
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NBA legend Charles Oakley recently released his book, “The Last Enforcer: Outrageous Stories from the Life and Times of One of the Nba’s Fiercest Competitors”. In the book, he talks about the time when the New York Knicks tried to recruit LeBron James.
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SLUG: SP/WIZARDS4 DATE:12/03/02 PHOTO BY: JOEL RICHARDSON DIG WASHINGTON WIZARDS BEAT THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS 103-78,,, MICHAEL JORDAN HOLDS BACK CHARLES OAKLEY FROM GETTING INTO AN AGREEMENT. (Photo by The The Washington Post via Getty Images)
According to Oakley, the Knicks were very close to signing LeBron but a fallout with his agent caused the deal to go south. He also talks about the reason why LeBron will never play for the Knicks.
Oakley reveals why the Knicks failed to get LeBron James
The story dates back to the 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend. According to Oakley, the person to blame for James not joining the New York Knicks is James Dolan and William Wesley. Dolan is the majority governor for the Knicks and has held on the post since 1999.
Although Oakley had no introduction with Dolan, William Wesley was the person to introduce the two. Oakley, LeBron James, and his agent Rich Paul were having a moment together when Wesley approached the group.
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NEW YORK, USA – JANUARY 22: LeBron James of Los Angeles Lakers is seen before NBA match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, the United States on January 22, 2020. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
As stated by Oakley in his new book, “Wes had a falling out with LeBron over something shady that happened with (LeBron’s agent) Rich Paul. I don’t know the details, but I think Rich felt Wes had tried to f— him over.” He adds, “When Wes approached us Rich didn’t want to talk to him. He wouldn’t even shake his hand. So Wes turned to me instead and asked me if I wanted to come to this back room.”
Charles Oakley then reveals the reason why LeBron James refused to join the Knicks. The reason being? James Dolan.
Why will James never join the New York Knicks?
Back in 2010, LeBron James was ruling the league and was a free agent. Although he decided to join the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks were close to signing him. James joined the Heat and won 2 NBA titles in the process.
In his book, Charles Oakley reveals the reason why James lost his respect for the Knicks and its higher order. During the same All-Star weekend which featured the interaction between William Wesley and LeBron’s agent, Oakley had a bad experience.
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Nov 28, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons in the second half at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Pistons 110-106. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
And it was with the New York Knicks governor James Dolan. Oakley wanted to shake hands with Dolan but instead was refused one and dissed. Oakley wrote in his book, “Man, I wanted to hit him in the head. I walked back to LeBron and said, ‘This mother-er (Dolan) wouldn’t shake my hand.‘”
All LeBron said was: “This is why I’m never going to New York.” LeBron James did not like the way the New York Knicks president treated a legend like Oakley and decided to never play for the Knicks.
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