Charles Oakley Rejects Plea Deal in Trial for February Incident at MSG

New York Knicks legend Charles Oakley rejected a plea offer Friday morning related to his removal from Madison Square Garden by security during a February NBA game between the Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.

TMZ Sports reported Oakley declined an adjournment contemplation dismissal, which would have removed the arrest from his record if he didn't get in trouble during the next six months. According to the outlet, he'd rather go to trial than accept any punishment for the incident.

Oakley is due back in Manhattan Criminal Court on Aug. 4 for the start of the trial, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. The report also noted Madison Square Garden declined comment on the case.

Margaret Hartmann of New York Magazine reported the 53-year-old Ohio native, who played for the Knicks from 1988 through 1998, was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault and one of criminal trespass after his removal from MSG.

Oakley told Mike Wise of The Undefeated that "I shouldn't have put my hands on anyone," but said security surrounded him for no reason to spark the altercation.

"I was there for four minutes—four minutes—when security came up to me," he said. "I was sitting right there by John McEnroe and doing nothing. I only got mad when they told me I couldn't stay and they start surrounding me."

Meanwhile, Jonathan Lehman of the New York Post reported arena security said Oakley "lashed out" at them and expressed his belief their actions were racially motivated.

A meeting was held between between Oakley, Dolan, Michael Jordan and NBA commissioner Adam Silver in an effort to ease tensions, per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. The longtime NBA forward didn't return to the Garden before the end of the 2016-17 season, though.