New York Knicks

Stop giving the credit to Michael Jordan -- the real hero in the Charles Oakley, Knicks truce is NBA Commish Adam Silver ... so says Kenny Smith.

In fact, Smith says Silver was nothing short of spectacular in his handling of NBA messes since the first day he took the job ... just look at Donald Sterling.

THE BAN IS OVER!!

Charles Oakley is NO LONGER persona non grata at Madison Square Garden following a peace summit with Knicks owner, James Dolan, on Monday.

Oakley was blacklisted from the arena after he was arrested last Wednesday for getting physical with security.

A PR war ensued and things seemed to be spiraling out of control until Oakley agreed to meet with Dolan in a session moderated by Michael Jordan.

Charles Oakley's beef with the Knicks looks like it might be squashed ... thanks to Michael Jordan ... who was part of a meeting between Oak, James Dolan and the NBA commish.

Oakley, J.D. and the NBA honcho met face-to-face today in NYC ... while Jordan called into the sit-down.

Adam Silver addressed the high-level meeting in a statement ... saying, "In an effort to find a path forward, New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan, Charles Oakley, and I met today at the league office, along with Michael Jordan, who participated by phone."

“Both Mr. Oakley and Mr. Dolan were apologetic about the incident and subsequent comments, their negative impact on the Knicks organization and the NBA. Mr. Dolan expressed his hope that Mr. Oakley would return to MSG as his guest in the near future."

Last week, Dolan announced Oakley was banned from MSG ... though it looks like the ban might already be lifted.

Charles Oakley's camp is coming out strong after James Dolan said the Knicks legend is temporarily banned from Madison Square Garden ... with Oak's rep calling Dolan "outrageous and unprofessional."

We spoke with Oak's longtime friend and spokesperson, Akhtar Farzaie, who tells us Dolan is unfairly making Charles out to be violent alcoholic in the media.

"Extremely outrageous and unprofessional of James Dolan to create a narrative of Charles Oakley in an attempt to make Charles seem like a monster."

Ex-NY Knicks player Chris Smith -- the younger brother of J.R. Smith -- has taken Charles Oakley's side in the NBA legend's war with the team ... releasing an "I'm With Oakley" shirt.

Chris is a co-owner of New Generation Management (along with Daniel Hazan) -- the same company that did the famous J.R. Smith tattoo shirt.

Charles Oakley's wife tells TMZ Sports the NBA star does NOT have a drinking problem -- and any suggestion he does is pure garbage.

We spoke with Angela Reed Oakley who says she and her husband are upset with the Knicks suggesting he needs to "get help" following the incident at MSG on Wednesday night.

"He doesn't have a drinking problem. It would've come out a long time ago if he did."

Charles admitted he was drinking before the game -- but scoffed at the suggestion alcohol had anything to do with the altercation during the Knicks game.

Angela took it a step further, saying, "He does not need medical help and he does not need a psychiatric evaluation. He was just showing the same passion he did when he was a player."

Oakley says her husband appreciates the support fans and players have shown since the incident ... "He's in awe of the love he's received."

Charles Oakley says he DID drink alcohol before things exploded at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night ... but insists he was not drinking INSIDE the arena.

The Knicks legend sat down with FOX 5 in NYC and told the reporter before the interview that he believed the team was trying to portray him as a guy who was drunk and out of control at the time of the incident.

The reporter followed up on the claim when the camera was rolling ... and Oakley admitted to having "a couple drinks" before the game.

Another NBA superstar is going after the Knicks ... this time it's Tracy McGrady who says "a savage" like Charles Oakley deserves to be treated better.

McGrady and Oakley actually played together back in the day -- they were teammates on the Toronto Raptors. Tracy still refers to him as "my guy."

Bottom line -- he thinks that Oakley was completely mistreated during the incident at MSG ... and can't believe the organization would humiliate the guy in front of all the kids in the stands.

The Knicks have said Oakley's a liar who's making up facts about that incident -- clearly, Tracy ain't buyin' that.

The NY Knicks say Charles Oakley is LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH -- claiming "dozens" of Knicks staff, security and NYPD cops witnessed his "abusive behavior" before he was kicked out of MSG.

The Knicks just issued a new statement in the wake of Oakley's media blitz in which he denied any and all wrongdoing in the Wednesday night incident. The Knicks are calling BS.

"There are dozens of security staff, employees and NYPD that witnessed Oakley's abusive behavior."

"It started when he entered the building and continued until he was arrested and left the building. Every single statement we have received is consistent in describing his actions."

"Everything [Oakley] said since the incident is pure fiction."

One of Charles Oakley's toughest ex-teammates says he 100% has Oak's back ... telling TMZ Sports had he been with Oakley in the Big Apple Wednesday night there would've been TWO former Knicks in jail.

We talked to Chris Childs ... who played with Oakley on the Knicks teams of the mid-'90s ... and he told us the situation is a disgrace, but he definitely sides with Charles' contention that he did nothing wrong.

"He's never once lied to me. Whatever way he says it happened, I have to believe him."

How committed to Oakley's is he? He told us had he been in the Garden with Oakley last night, he would have certainly had his back PHYSICALLY.

"It's the teammate in me. If I was there, I'd be in jail too."

Childs says he's reached out to Oakley and is waiting for a call back, but that the incident itself is just another example of how far the Knicks have fallen.

"We used to be known for Willis Reed running out of the tunnel, now it's about dragging Oak into it. Our franchise is so broken down, it's sad to see."

BTW -- If you're in an NBA foxhole, the guy you want with you is definitely Childs, just ask Kobe Bryant.

Charles Oakley says he has NO IDEA why he was kicked out of Madison Square Garden before things got physical with security Wednesday night ... swearing he has nothing but LOVE for the Knicks.

After Oakley was released from police custody, he sat down with a friend of his from Jimmy's NYC restaurant and calmly gave his side of the story.

Oakley also told the The NY Daily News he did NOT put his hands on Knicks owner Jimmy Dolan -- saying, "I was there for four minutes" ... I didn't say anything to him. I swear on my mother."

"They came over and wanted to know why I was sitting there. I bought the ticket. I said, 'Why do you guys keep staring at me?' Then they asked me to leave. And I said I'm not leaving."

Oakley was arrested and charged with 3 counts of misdemeanor assault and 1 count of trespassing.

Oakley's rep Akhtar Farzaie tells TMZ Sports, "Charles loves the Knicks, loves the fans, loves the city of NY."

"Oak bought his ticket to support the team and was told he was ordered to leave without reason ... anyone would be furious!"

7:31 PM PT -- NYPD officials tell TMZ Sports Oakley was arrested on 3 counts of misdemeanor assault. He is still in police custody.

Charles Oakley got into an ugly altercation in the stands during the first quarter of Wednesday night's Knicks game, and struck 2 security staffers ... one of them in the face, apparently.

One shot for the fate of the world ... which New York Knick gets the ball?

That's the question we posed to Ex-Knicks President Dave Checketts ... and the answer is gonna raise a couple eyebrows up in the Big Apple for sure.

Checketts presided over the Knicks during the early '90's when Patrick Ewing was king ... so we asked the same question the locker room is asking ... who's king now, Melo or KP (sorry, Derek)?

Howard Stern, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Bill O'Reilly ... a TON of huge stars hit MSG Wednesday night to watch LeBron and the Cavs take on the Knicks ... and we got the video.

The footage sorta feels like that old 'SNL' sketch with Rob Schneider by the copy machine -- "Tracy! Trace! The Trace Man!"

Still, cool to see all the big celebs.

As for the game, the Cavs killed NY ... 126-94.

They play 'em at home again in February ... we'll see who shows up for that one.

Knicks guard Brandon Jennings says the team is fully aware LeBron James will try to punish the team for Phil Jackson's "posse" comment in Wednesday night's game -- but he has a message for the King to hear ...

WE AIN'T NEVA SCUURRRED!!!!

TMZ Sports spoke to Brandon ... whose Knicks are playing pretty well ... and asked him if the team is ready for a potentially angry LeBron to show up at Madison Square Garden tonight.

Why would Bron be mad? This is the first meeting of the teams since Knicks Prez Phil Jackson referred to Bron's business team as a "posse" ... offending Bron in the process.

Jennings -- who's getting the start tonight with Derrick Rose out -- says the squad knows LeBron is motivated ... but they're ready for it all.

Here's Zendaya and Odell Beckham Jr. taking in the Knicks game in NYC together Monday night ... once again giving us hope that one of the world's dopest potential couples could become a thing.

You might remember ... the two kicked it at a Grammy party (along with Zendaya's dad) earlier this year ... and it seemed OBJ was doing something he hasn't done since high school -- trying out.

Zendaya eventually said the two decided to go the "just friends" route ... but the kids looked pretty cozy courtside at the game last night ... and hung out WITHOUT her dad on duty ... although mom was in tow.

Progress is a slow process ...