Patrick Ewing-Charles Oakley beef, explained: Oakley calls former Knicks teammate 'coward' in latest barb

Patrick Ewing-Charles Oakley beef, explained: Oakley calls former Knicks teammate ‘coward’ in latest barb originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Knicks of the 1990s were renowned for their toughness, physicality and willingness to lock horns with just about anyone. Those attributes appear to have followed at least two of that era’s best-known players.

Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley patrolled the paint for New York for a decade, helping the team reach the NBA Finals in 1994.

Three decades after shining in the Big Apple, Ewing and Oakley are back in the headlines — albeit for different reasons. Despite their shared Knicks connection, the two have had a frosty relationship in recent years. Tempers have flared recently, with Oakley directing pointed words toward his former frontcourt partner. Suffice it to say, no love is lost between the two.

Here’s what you need to know about the origins of Ewing and Oakley’s feud.

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Patrick Ewing-Charles Oakley beef, explained

Ewing and Oakley have locked horns for more than a decade. The roots of their feud are lengthy, with the latter accusing the former of inhibiting New York’s ability to win a title during the 1990s.

“He never put us on his back like he should have because every adversity he ducked away from,” Oakley said during a 2020 appearance on Damon Amendolara’s radio show.

Oakley described Ewing as a “high maintenance” player who disrupted the team’s harmony throughout their time together.

“You got to be special to play with Patrick,” Oakley said. “You had to do so much out of your ordinary just to be on the team, and that hurt us sometimes.

Chris Childs agreed Ewing was high-maintenance. Oakley followed up with feeling left out to dry by Ewing. “I don’t mind a player being high maintenance. But you better have balls for a teammate when he needs you to come to f**king bat for you.” pic.twitter.com/k1DDlLoVHl

— Damon Amendolara (@DamonAmendo) April 13, 2020

“As a team, we’re supposed to be close and together. It wasn’t that. We had to make sure he was happy. He didn’t care if we [were] happy or not.”

In 2010, Oakley told the New York Post that he advised LeBron James to not sign with the Knicks. In the process, he fired a pot shot at Ewing, who he said didn’t field adequate enough blame for New York’s postseason woes in the 1990s.

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“When we lose, they only point at us, never point at Patrick,” Oakley said. “Patrick was our leader as far as press and people who are watching TV, but the Knicks were made of a lot of tough guys and a lot of heart. I think that sometimes we let our heart get in the way instead of playing the game.”

Oakley’s relationship with Ewing certainly faltered amid his ongoing feud with Knicks owner James Dolan. Ewing had his own run-in with Dolan, publicly griping about his treatment after returning to Madison Square Garden while coaching Georgetown during a matchup with Villanova in 2021.

Ewing claimed that he was “stopped” and “accosted” while walking into the stadium.

“Everybody in this building should know who the hell I am, and I’m getting stopped — I can’t move around this building,” Ewing said, per TMZ Sports. “I was like, ‘What the hell? Is this Madison Square Garden?'”

Ewing and Dolan had a conversation, smoothing things over. The two seem to be allies — a stark contrast to Oakley’s relationship with New York’s governor.

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What did Charles Oakley say about Patrick Ewing?

Oakley continued to egg on his former teammate, calling Ewing a “coward” during a June 4 appearance on TMZ Sports’ “Open Mic.”

“For Patrick to not be man enough to come and talk to me after having his back for 10 years, he’s a coward,” Oakley said.

When asked whether his relationship with Ewing was reparable, Oakley was adamant that he had nothing positive to say about the Basketball Hall of Famer.

😳 EXCLUSIVE: Charles Oakley blasts “coward” Patrick Ewing, says relationship is beyond repair. pic.twitter.com/xErznILYZP

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) June 4, 2026

“The last draw was when he was in Cleveland,” Oakley added. “And he knows I’m from Cleveland, he knew I was at the game. And didn’t speak to me. How many times you been to my mother’s house and you can’t speak to me? I’m drawing lines.

“He’s just not a good person. He might make money being an All-Star, Dream Team. That don’t make you a good person.”

Oakley blasted Ewing’s leadership skills. He also said that Ewing’s accomplishments with the Knicks pale in comparison to those of Jalen Brunson.

“If you ask 100 players, maybe one guy would say he’s a leader. Two people. Maybe Mark Jackson and Trent Tucker. I’m calling people’s names out.

“You can’t compare Patrick to Brunson.”

How long did Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing play together?

Oakley and Ewing spent 10 years playing alongside one another, with Oakley joining New York in 1988. The two enjoyed success together, with Oakley earning an All-Star selection in 1994 and two All-Defensive Team honors (1994, 1998). Ewing, meanwhile, cemented himself as a Hall of Fame-caliber talent, making 10 straight All-Star Games and seven All-NBA teams during their time together.

New York clinched a berth in the 1994 NBA Finals but was unable to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Ewing is widely considered one of the best players never to win an NBA championship. Oakley appears to disagree with that assessment.