The Knicks is Teletubby Soft They Need an Oakley Slap

The Knicks of this season pissed me off with Trae Young rolling fake dice on our home court beating us in the Emirate Cup game. It made me think about a Charles Oakley slap, this needs one.

Remember Teletubbies? This current Knicks team remind me of them. Super soft, I can’t remember at any moment this season this Knicks team getting into a scrap with another team. I can’t remember any of these guys giving a flagrant foul. I remember Mitchell Robinson getting his leg grabbed by Embiid and nobody did nothing. Bottle flips, Haliburton dancing on our home court in game 7, but the Trae Young fake dice roll got it for me.

This season, the New York Knicks have shown a troubling lack of toughness on both ends of the floor. Despite the presence of elite defensive wings like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, the team struggles to impose their will, especially in losses.

In losses, the Knicks are allowing:

• 110.1 points per game

• Opponents shooting 47.2% from the field

• Opponents shooting 34.5% from three

• Averaging just 38.9 rebounds per game (including 29.9 defensive rebounds)

• A -10.5 net rating

Even in their overall season stats, the Knicks’ defense has been far from dominant. This season, they are:

17th DREB

9th DREB %

26th REB

25th STL

26th BLK

18th DEF RTG

4th Opp 2nd Chance PTS

3rd Opp PTS off TOs

10th Opp PTS in Paint

9th Opp FT Rate

19th Opp EFG

These numbers indicate a glaring inability to control the boards, guard the perimeter, or consistently contest shots. The slow pace we run, which is last in the NBA, I think does this current Knicks team a disservice. Worse, this season’s Knicks lack the mental toughness to handle adversity.

Trae Young rolling fake dice on the Knicks’ home court after beating them in the Emirates Cup is emblematic of how opponents view this team—soft and easily disrespected. This moment rivals the humiliation of Reggie Miller’s infamous choke gesture at Spike Lee.

The Knicks, mainly Thibs, need a fundamental shift in attitude and approach, one reminiscent of the toughness embodied by Charles Oakley, the ultimate enforcer.

RIP Anthony Mason

The Rise of Charles Oakley: From College Dominance to NBA Grit

Charles Oakley was born on December 18, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended John Hay High School and went on to play college basketball at Virginia Union University, where he solidified his reputation as one of the toughest and most dominant players of his era.

At Virginia Union, Oakley played under legendary coach Dave Robbins, who led the Panthers to three NCAA Division II championships in his career. Oakley’s four years at Virginia Union were nothing short of extraordinary. He scored 2,273 points and grabbed 1,664 rebounds, earning All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) honors every season.

In his senior year (1984-85), Oakley led all of NCAA Division II in rebounding, averaging an astounding 17.3 rebounds per game while also scoring 24.3 points. He was named NCAA Division II National Player of the Year and guided Virginia Union to a 30-1 record, cementing their spot as the No. 1-ranked team in Division II throughout the regular season. His dominance earned him induction into the VUU and CIAA Halls of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Oakley’s NBA Career: Toughness Personified

Oakley was selected ninth overall in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his rights were immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. In Chicago, he established himself as a fierce rebounder and defender, quickly becoming a vital piece alongside a young Michael Jordan. Known as Jordan’s protector, Oakley’s physical play set the tone for the Bulls’ early success.

In 1988, Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks, where he spent the most iconic stretch of his career. During his 10 years in New York, Oakley helped the Knicks make the playoffs every season. He became the heart and soul of the team, providing unmatched toughness, rebounding, and leadership.

Oakley’s best season with the Knicks came in 1993-94 when he started an NBA-record 107 games (regular season and playoffs combined). That year, he averaged 11.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, earning his only All-Star appearance and a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team. His contributions helped lead the Knicks to the NBA Finals, where they fell just short of a championship.

During his 10 seasons with the Knicks, Oakley averaged 10.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He ranks seventh in Knicks history in rebounds (6,630) and played a pivotal role in making Madison Square Garden one of the toughest arenas for opponents.

Oakley’s career didn’t end in New York. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 1998, where he played three seasons before brief stints with the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets. Over his 19-year NBA career, Oakley amassed 12,417 points, 12,205 rebounds, and 3,217 assists, ranking 18th all-time in games played and 21st in total rebounds when he retired at the time.

Oakley’s Legacy: The Toughness the Knicks Lack

Charles Oakley was more than just a player; he was an enforcer who demanded respect from teammates and opponents alike. There’s also a story of when Charles Oakley slapped a teammate when he played for the Raptors as told by Tracy McGrady. Whether it was slapping Charles Barkley during a players’ association meeting or calling out soft play on his own teams, Oakley set the tone for what it meant to be tough in the NBA.

A Message to the Knicks: Toughen Up

To Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Deuce McBride, Precious Achiuwa, and the rest of this team—You need to be tougher. Mitchell Robinson you need to get the fuck off Tik Tic and Tik Tic to a gym and get healthy. Brunson and Josh Hart need to go roommates podcast their asses in the gym and start bringing more toughness to the team. Toughness isn’t just about physicality; it’s about pride, resilience, and refusing to let anyone embarrass you or your city. Where was the heart when Trae Young rolled fake dice on the Knicks’ logo? That’s the ultimate sign of disrespect on your home court, and no one stepped up.

The old-school New Yorker in me says someone should’ve pushed him off the logo. Not with a cheap shot, but with grit and intensity that shows him this is New York, not a playground. Charles Oakley would’ve sent a message, and so would the Knicks teams of the ’90s. This franchise used to stand for toughness, for defense, for never backing down—something that’s been sorely missing.

You have the talent and the tools, but what’s talent without heart? The city of New York deserves more, and you owe it to yourselves to play with the pride and fight that this jersey demands. Toughen up, because the Knicks are supposed to represent everything that’s tough about this city. Right now, you’re falling short.

Thank you for reading another State Podcast article peace and blessings.