What is Charles Oakley's Net Worth?
Charles Oakley is a retired American professional basketball player who has a net worth of $12 million. Charles Oakley played 19 years in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards. He ended his playing career in 2004 with the Houston Rockets. Later, in 2017, Oakley became the coach of the BIG3's Killer 3s. In the decade after his career Oakley has been a somewhat controversial figure. He has largely been shunned by the New York Knicks organization and is not invited to team events because he has been vocally critical of the team. He also reportedly has to pay for his own tickets to games. On February 8, 2017 Oakley got into an altercation with Knicks owner James Dolan in the stands while a game was going on. Dolan called security to escort Oakley from the arena. Oakley was arrested after getting into a brief altercation with the security guards.
Career Earnings and Contracts
Oakley's career earnings from his NBA contracts totaled approximately $43.6 million. His highest-earning season was in 2000-2001 when he earned $8.75 million while playing for the Toronto Raptors. Oakley's first NBA contract was with the Chicago Bulls in 1985, and he earned a salary of $75,000 in his rookie season.
Early Life and Education
Charles Oakley was born on December 18, 1963 in Cleveland, Ohio. As a teenager, he went to John Hay High School. For his higher education, Oakley attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. There, he led the school basketball team to a 31-1 record in his senior year, capped off by the 1985 CIAA championship and the NCAA Division II Player of the Year title. Oakley finished his collegiate career with 2,379 points and 1,642 rebounds.
Chicago Bulls, First Stint
In the 1985 NBA draft, Oakley was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers; however, his draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls. He went on to have a strong three years with the team, rounding out a squad that featured the up-and-coming Michael Jordan. Oakley played as a kind of enforcer, protecting Jordan from cheap shots and the roughhousing of rival players. He was also a good scorer, and in March of 1986 set a career high of 35 points in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
New York Knicks
Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks in 1988. He soon became part of the team's core roster alongside Patrick Ewing, Anthony Mason, Mark Jackson, and John Starks. Oakley remained with the team for a decade. His best season was arguably 1993-94, when the Knicks won the Atlantic Division and made it to the NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets. Ultimately, the Rockets won in seven games. The season was notable for several other reasons, including Oakley's record 107 starts, which included starts in a record 25 playoff games.
During his time with the Knicks, Oakley established a reputation in the league for his strong defensive skills and his exceptional rebounding. Although the team continued to play well throughout the 90s, regularly making it to the playoffs, the Knicks failed to return to the Finals during the remaining years of Oakley's tenure through 1998.
Toronto Raptors
In 1998, Oakley was traded to the Toronto Raptors. He was something of a veteran presence on the team, which included many young players such as Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. In early 2001, Oakley set a career high of six blocks; he also came close to notching a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Chicago Bulls, Second Stint
Oakley returned to his original team, the Chicago Bulls, in 2001. Spending a single season with the team through 2002, he started 36 of his 57 games and averaged 3.8 points, six rebounds, and two assists per game.
Washington Wizards
In 2002, Oakley signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards. On the team, he was reunited with his former Bulls teammate Michael Jordan. During his sole season with the Wizards in 2002-03, Oakley played 42 games and averaged 1.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and one assist per game.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Houston Rockets
Oakley signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets in 2004, his final year in the NBA. However, he played in only seven games, averaging 1.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. He retired at the end of the season, finishing his career with a total of 12,417 points, 12,205 rebounds, and 3,217 assists.
Post-Playing Career
Since retiring as an NBA player, Oakley has been involved in coaching and various business endeavors. In late 2010, he became an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats, a position he held for a year. Oakley later became the coach for the BIG3's Killer 3s in 2017.
On the business side of things, Oakley owns a number of commercial enterprises. In his hometown of Cleveland, he owns the salons Hair Solutions and Nails EtCetera and the combination car wash and Laundromat Oakley's Wash House. All are family-run. Oakley also owns a chain of car wash, oil change, and detail centers in New York.
Assault and Arrest
At Madison Square Garden in early 2017, Oakley was involved in an altercation during a game between the Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers. He was removed from the arena for allegedly yelling at MSG executive chairman James L. Dolan and hitting a security guard in the face. Oakley was arrested by the New York City Police Department and charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault, as well as criminal trespassing. The incident left a damaged relationship between Oakley and the Knicks.
Personal Life
In the summer of 2016, Oakley married Angela Reed. Also that year, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.
