For the Raptors, he provided a veteran presence to a young team that included Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. In 1998, Oakley was traded by New York to the Toronto Raptors, alongside Sean Marks, for blossoming star Marcus Camby. During his time with the Knicks, Oakley was known across the league for being a defensive specialist and outstanding rebounder. Despite regular season success and consistent playoffs appearances, the Knicks did not return to the Finals again during Oakley's tenure. On March 11, 1998, Oakley grabbed a season high 22 rebounds in a loss against former teammate Anthony Mason and the Charlotte Hornets. The following round, during that year's NBA Finals, Oakley averaged 11 points and 11.9 rebounds per game in a tightly contested seven-game series loss to the Houston Rockets. On June 1, 1994, Oakley scored 12 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and recorded 7 assists in a Game 5 loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Oakley eventually became a part of the core which the Knicks built around, which also featured Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason and point guard Mark Jackson.ĭuring the Knicks' 1994 season, which included a record 25 playoff games, Oakley started every regular season and playoff game for a record 107 starts in a single season. With the drafting and development of Horace Grant, the Bulls traded Oakley to the New York Knicks for 7'1" center Bill Cartwright. On April 26, 1987, Oakley set a postseason career high with 25 points scored, alongside grabbing 15 rebounds, in a loss to the Boston Celtics. He was given the nickname, "Oak Tree", for his rugged demeanor and no-nonsense attitude. Oakley also assumed the role of the team "enforcer", whose duty primarily was to protect young Jordan against cheap shots and roughhousing tactics of opposing players. Charles Oakley during the 1986–87 season with the Chicago Bulls Oakley was selected as a part of the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1986. On March 15, 1986, Oakley set a career high in points scored with 35, during a 125–116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Oakley provided another scoring option and steady offensive and defensive performances to an up-and-coming Bulls squad led by Michael Jordan. Oakley was drafted with the 9th overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls, alongside Calvin Duncan, for Ennis Whatley and Keith Lee. Professional career Chicago Bulls (1985–1988) He scored 2,379 points and grabbed 1,642 rebounds in his college career. Oakley was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. The Panthers had a 31–1 overall record that year, with Oakley averaging 24 points and 17.3 rebounds a game. As a senior in 1984–85, Oakley led Virginia Union to the 1985 NCAA championship. Oakley attended Virginia Union University, a Division II historically black university in Richmond, Virginia. Oakley attended John Hay High School, where he excelled in basketball. Early life Ĭharles Oakley was born December 18, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was raised. Since 2017, he has been the coach of the Killer 3's of the BIG3. He also played for the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, and Houston Rockets. As a power forward, he consistently ranked as one of the best rebounders and defensive players in the NBA. Oakley played most of 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association with the New York Knicks.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |