Basketball Daily

The ninth overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft produced the rugged and determined Charles Oakley.  This defensive minded brute was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers but his rights were traded immediately to the Chicago Bulls.  During his tenor in the NBA, Oakley played for 5 teams including the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets and most notably with the New York Knicks.

Charles was a tenacious and determined Power Forward playing behind Patrick Ewing that developed into a one-two punch.  Oakley was a boxout master, placing in the Top 10 many years of his career for averaging many rebounds per game.  During his 10 year stint with New York he was finally honored by becoming an All Star in 1994.

Oakley’s 19 year professional career produced 9.7 points per game, 47% field goal shooting, 76% free throw shooting, 9.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game and 0.3 blocks per game.  All fine averages that really don’t say how valuable a player he was.

Overall, Charles Oakley was a leader and demanded his teammates give it their all, each and every night.  He was also a very savvy player that helped the young players on the team.  Actually he was traded to Toronto to bring veteran leadership to the young rookies on the team.

Charles finished his long NBA career in 2004 when he was 41 years old.  The 6′ 9″, strong 245 pound Virgina Union alumni was a great talent and an asset to the sport basketball.