If LeBron James turns to Charles Oakley for advice on where to play next season, the Knicks could be out of the running.
Oakley slammed his former team in an interview with a Miami radio station Friday.
“I can’t tell him to go to New York,” Oakley said. “New York treated me bad.
… When I go to the Knicks games, do you know that they have somebody that follows me around to see what I say to the press?”
Oakley lives in the Cleveland area and is friends with James. If James does ask, Oakley would point him toward the Heat.
“I said maybe Chicago or Miami . I think him and (Dwyane) Wade would be great together,” Oakley said.
Oakley spent 10 seasons with the Knicks (1988-98). He started his career with the Bulls and played for the Raptors, Wizards and Rockets before retiring in 2004.
Oakley also took a shot at former teammate Patrick Ewing, who he claims never was blamed for the Knicks’ failure to win a championship.
“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.
“A lot of times when we play the Bulls, decision making, Pat Riley was a great coach, but sometimes he didn’t make the best decisions. Sometimes players on the court, we didn’t make the best decisions.
“It was everybody why we didn’t win a championship. Pat was our main leader.
We stand behind him 100 percent. Patrick could have been more vocal for the team, but he wasn’t. I think that hurt us a little bit.”