Draymond Green skewered James Dolan for treating Charles Oakley with disrespect. Stephen A. Smith called Green’s slave mentality statements uncalled for, but he doesn’t excuse Dolan for what he did.
Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green inserted himself into the ongoing feud between New York Knicks Owner James Dolan and former legendary Knicks player Charles Oakley, accusing Dolan of having a “slave master mentality.”
During the Tuesday, Feb. 14 broadcast of Dray Day Podcast, the Warriors star criticized Dolan for disrespecting Oakley, tossing him out of Madison Square Garden and alleging the former player had a mental issue in the statement following the incident. “I’m pissed,” Green said. “No. 1, the man is a legend. Treat him as such. Why is he buying a ticket to the game?
“It wasn’t a problem when he was speaking out then [as a player]. Why is it all of a sudden a problem now? That’s a slave master mentality,” Green says. “That’s ridiculous. It was all fine and dandy when he was laying people out, taking fines and all this stuff for your organization. But now, all of a sudden, when he says something that he feels, it’s a problem.”
Oakley was thrown out of MSG by five security guards for allegedly shouting behind Dolan during a game. The ex-player was arrested and charged with three counts of assault, Atlanta Black Star reported. Following the arrest, the Knicks organization released a statement that insinuated Oakley had a mental health or drinking problem, which offended Green.
“How as an organization can you come out and say, ‘We hope you get help’? … That’s not something that you say to the world. That’s not classy at all. It’s not OK for you to go say that to the world as a multibillion-dollar organization.”
Since the podcast episode aired, ESPN commentator and sports journalist Stephen A. Smith has responded, saying he found Green’s comments to be inappropriate, “excessive” and “uncalled for.” However, Smith didn’t excuse Dolan for disrespecting Oakley.
The feud escalated to a point that NBA Commissioner Adam Sliver and Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan intervened as mediators. Dolan agreed to allow Oakley to enter MSG for games and events, however Oakley is demanding a public apology from Dolan.
