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The New York Knicks legend was banned from the team's home
games last Friday following his highly-publicized altercation
with security, who forcibly removed him from the arena during
last Wednesday's game.
Oakley was arrested and charged with three misdemeanor counts of
assault and one misdemeanor count of trespassing.
On Tuesday, a Madison Square Garden source told ESPN the ban was
lifted.
Oakley's reinstatement comes one day after NBA commissioner Adam
Silver met with Knicks owner James Dolan and Oakley. Michael
Jordan participated in the discussion via telephone.
"Both Mr. Oakley and Mr. Dolan were apologetic about the
incident and subsequent comments, and their negative impact on
the Knicks organization and the NBA," Silver said in a statement
after the meeting.
Dolan said Oakley was ejected because he was being verbally
abusive to security while sitting nearby Dolan. After Oakley's
arrest, Dolan suggested Oakley might have an alcohol problem,
which the former Knicks forward denied.
Oakley told the New York Post on Saturday following his release
from jail that he was minding his own business when team
security approached his seat.
Dolan fired Madison Square Garden security chief Frank Bendetto,
who oversaw security for former Presidents George W. Bush and
Barack Obama for the Secret Service, after the incident.
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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