Charles Oakley on the Present State of the NBA and the Last Dance
Having played for World famous basketball teams, including the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards, Charles Oakley has made his name as one of the most iconic basketball players in NBA history. Widely regarded as one of the most passionate and tough players on the field, Charles Oakley retains much of his old passion to this day. In a special interview with Betway Insider, Charles Oakley spoke candidly about his career in the league, the present state of affairs, and his portrayal in the hit 2020 Michael Jordan documentary, The Last Dance.
Betway Insider: Who do you think has performed the best in the ongoing NBA season?
Charles Oakley: Not a lot of good teams in the East have been playing well in the ongoing NBA season. It is early in the season but I think that the Golden State Warriors are showing promise. The team is more defined because everyone knows Stephen Curry is the main guy, and everyone has to follow his lead. I think Kevin Durant is playing well, even though the Nets are still trying to find their rhythm without Irving.
Will Curry be the MVP this season, or will he have any competition?
I think Curry will, without a doubt, be the MVP for this season. Kevin Durant is also very skilled and such a good player. I doubt he will be out of the conversation, either.
If you played today, which NBA team would you choose?
If I were still in the game, I would want to play for the Phoenix Suns. They could have had the championship last year if they had a tough big man on their side, like Bobby Portis. He is exactly what the Phoenix Suns needed, a veteran athlete and tough guy who could lead them to victory.
Does anyone in the game right now remind you of yourself?
I think basketball has changed a lot, from a game that used to be more about the rough and tough to a game that is more about style than physicality and athletics. Mind you, players still have to have a lot of physicality, traveling around and preparing for 82 games, but the old roughness and all-out toughness are no longer present on the court.
What are your thoughts about the New York Knicks’ performance this season?
The Knicks finished in the top four last year and added a couple of pieces to their team. Technically, they should finish in the top three or four again this year. With teams like the Chicago Bulls and Washington Warriors, the New York Knicks have some tough competition ahead of them this season in the playoffs. I think they will pick up the pace once Julius Randle gets a handle on his performance.
What do you think about the Chicago Bulls, considering the team has been one of your homes in the NBA in the past?
I was impressed with Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan who are both excellent players and true leaders. The team made some great trade-offs during the Summer, and now the pieces are clicking in place. The amount of work they have put into this fresh start speaks for itself and is a good indication that they are going to be a force to reckon with this basketball season.
What did you think about your portrayal in The Last Dance in 2020?
I thought it was a great documentary. Obviously, it did not sit right with a lot of people, but it was a documentary about Michael Jordan. It was going to make him look good, and some people came out looking poorly. I have no hard feelings about what he said about me. He is the one who put me in his documentary, the Hall of Fame, Space Jam, and more. I’m waiting for the next show.
I think a lot of finger-pointing at Michael Jordan was not warranted. Most of the players who he criticized could not actually play, so what was there to be mad about? They should be glad that they got mentioned in the documentary at all.
Source NBA lines site Betway
