Oakley watches Knicks, rooting for ‘good game’
CLEVELAND — Charles Oakley, who was in Oakland, Calif. for the Cavaliers’ Game 7 Finals triumph last June, was a conspicuous guest at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday — and seated next to Cleveland’s eccentric owner Dan Gilbert no less.
The Cleveland resident saw his first Knicks game in person since he was arrested Feb. 8 at the Garden for cursing out security staff and jostling with them.
Oakley sat in a baseline seat by the Cavaliers bench between Gilbert and a Cleveland attorney, Fred Nance. Oakley was invited to the game by Nance, a season ticket holder. When Gilbert got word, he invited them to sit in his collection of seats — possibly to needle Knicks owner James Dolan.
When asked if he was over his feud with Dolan, Oakley said, “How long would it take you to get over it?”
In interviews, Oakley has said he still bleeds orange and blue despite the still unresolved feud.
”It’s not a thought to the players,’’ Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek had said before the game. “He’s always said he’s a Knicks guy so hope- fully he’s cheering for us.”
Oakley didn’t seem to be. Asked if he was rooting for the Knicks, Oakley said, “I’m rooting for a good game.”
He also said Thursday he couldn’t care less about having his Knicks No. 34 retired.
“It’s just a jersey. I don’t care about that,” Oakley said. “They didn’t retire Bernard King and he’s a better player than me.”
LeBron James is a big Oakley fan who recently said, “Oakley for President’’ in the aftermath of his Garden arrest.
Oakley’s manager Akhtar Farzaie told The Post he occasionally attends Cavaliers games. Oakley is in no mood to reconcile despite Dolan’s lifting of the ban. His comments centered on Dolan’s insinuations he has anger management or alcohol issues.
Courtney Lee joined the club despite the flu and played although he missed both practices after the break. ... Joakim Noah (hamstring) missed his sixth straight game and likely will sit out Saturday against the Sixers.