Don Wallace on Charles Oakley Banned From MSG: 'Get Him in There'

Don Wallace is not a man who occupies just one lane. The native New Yorker has built a reputation on two very different stages: one inside the boxing ring and one in front of the camera, and he's excelled at both. Trained by a trio of elite cornermen, including Hall of Fame trainers Bob Jackson and Al Gavin, as well as Ring 8 Trainer of the Year Hector Roca, Wallace developed the kind of discipline and mental toughness that later translated seamlessly into an acting career.

Television audiences have come to recognize Wallace through a string of high-profile roles. He's appeared on NCIS: Los Angeles, All American, The Rookie: Feds, and most recently in The Family Business: New Orleans, the IMDB TV drama that has earned a devoted following. But even as his Hollywood profile continues to rise, Wallace never loses touch with where he came from, the streets, the gyms, and the arenas of New York City.

That rootedness was on full display when LandonBuford.com sat down with the multi-hyphenate talent to discuss the New York Knicks, their long-awaited championship contention, and one particular absence from Madison Square Garden that still stings for many fans: the ongoing ban of Knicks legend Charles Oakley.

Oak Is the Statue of Liberty of the Garden

When asked about the Charles Oakley situation, his estrangement from the Knicks organization, his ban from MSG following a 2017 altercation with security personnel, and what it means for the franchise's legacy — Wallace didn't hesitate. He spoke with the passion of a true New Yorker who understands exactly what Oakley represents to this city.

"Oak is a staple in New York — he's the equivalent of the Statue of Liberty, if it were inside Madison Square Garden. He's that dude. What he did for New York City, what he did for the Knicks in the 90s, is legendary. People still talk about his games — him, Ewing, John Starks, all those guys." — Don Wallace, speaking with LandonBuford.com

The comparison to the Statue of Liberty is both vivid and telling. Oakley, who spent a decade as one of the most feared and beloved power forwards in Knicks history, embodied everything the city prized: toughness, loyalty, accountability. He played defense with a ferocity that made the Garden roar. He protected teammates without hesitation. He made Madison Square Garden a place opponents genuinely feared.

A Ban That Still Doesn't Sit Right

The backstory of Oakley's banishment is by now well-documented. In February 2017, Oakley was forcibly removed from Madison Square Garden by security personnel and arrested on assault charges. The incident unfolded on camera and quickly became one of the most talked-about controversies in recent NBA history. Oakley maintained his innocence throughout. In August of that year, he accepted a dismissal deal for the charges, and later filed a civil lawsuit against Knicks owner James Dolan and MSG, alleging defamation, discrimination under the Americans With Disabilities Act, false imprisonment, and abuse of process.

Court documents alleged that Dolan had long treated Oakley with contempt, refusing basic courtesies and even requiring him to purchase his own courtside tickets to attend games at the arena where he spent the most celebrated decade of his career. The lawsuit painted a picture of an organization that had turned its back on one of its most iconic figures.

Wallace, while careful to acknowledge the limits of his personal knowledge of the situation, was clear in his moral assessment.

"I'm obviously not that close to the situation, but from what I've read, this needs to be resolved. He's a Knick. I don't think anything he's done warrants a lifetime ban. Those guys need to work it out, because Oak is part of the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden — and right now, there's a huge part of that missing." — Don Wallace

A Brotherhood Tested

What makes the situation particularly painful for Oakley — and for fans who watched those legendary 1990s Knicks teams — is the sense that the brotherhood of that era has frayed. In a candid conversation with journalist Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson, Oakley spoke with striking vulnerability about the relationships he once thought were unbreakable.

Asked how he felt watching former teammatesPatrick Ewing, John Starks, Allan Houston, and Walt "Clyde" Frazier sit courtside at Knicks games while he remained banned, Oakley was blunt.

"It's cool and it ain't cool." — Charles Oakley shared with Brandon'Scoop B' Robinson

He noted that despite sharing a decade of battles and deeply personal moments with some of these men, they had yet to acknowledge him even when both were in the same building.

Knicks, Madison Square Garden run like a plantation says Charles Oakley:

"I’ve been to two games this year where John, Patrick, Allan [Houston] and Clyde [Walt Frazier] were there, and I was in Cleveland....These guys haven’t spoken to me yet. In a game, they haven’t spoken to… https://t.co/KUv1ICcrAK pic.twitter.com/TkepvSFO93

— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) May 29, 2026

It is a sobering reminder that sports loyalty, even among teammates who bled for the same cause, has its limits when institutional power enters the equation. Oakley's isolation, from the building he made famous and from some of the men who stood beside him, has become its own kind of New York story.

Get Him in the Building

For Don Wallace, the resolution is simple, even if the politics surrounding it are not. As the Knicks experience a genuine renaissance — competing at the highest level and restoring pride to a fanbase that endured years of disappointment, the absence of Oakley feels like an unresolved chord hanging over what should be a triumphant moment.

"I really enjoyed seeing him at the games, and he deserves to be there. He's done so much for the Garden, so much for New York City, and so much for the New York Knicks. No question, get him in there." — Don Wallace

It is the kind of unvarnished, no-nonsense take you'd expect from a man forged in New York boxing gyms and shaped by some of the sport's finest minds. Don Wallace knows what loyalty looks like. He was trained by people who demanded it. And from where he stands, the Knicks organization still has a debt to pay, not in dollars, but in acknowledgment.

Charles Oakley gave everything to this city. He guarded it with his body, his reputation, and his name. As the Knicks look ahead to what many hope will be a championship era, the man who helped build the Garden's toughest chapters deserves a seat inside it. No ticket required.