Charles Oakley Says Patrick Ewing ‘Wasn't a Good Leader' Like Jalen Brunson

With the New York Knicks reaching this year’s NBA Finals, many of the team’s former stars are showing their support for the team or potentially throwing shade at former teammates.

The Knicks had teams in contention for the Eastern Conference title before, but Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990s were always in their way.

Charles Oakley played for the Knicks during those trying times, with the roster also featuring 11-time All-Star and Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, who could never add a championship to his resume.

And according to Oakley, that’s because Ewing was never a “good leader” and was instead just a player capable of achieving the sorts of stats the league’s top stars generated.

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“Nah, he wasn’t that kind of leader. He was a big guy. He was our money man. He was the best player on the team,” Oakley said on “The Jim Rome Show.”

“I played with him for 10 years. I seen everything here and there. He was the guy who showed up to work. I give you that, but he wasn’t a leader,” he said. “It’s part of the game. Everybody who averaged 30 points wasn’t a good leader.”

He also mentioned that Charles Barkley “wasn’t a good leader either” and that many big stars just “got their numbers.”

Oakley, a 1994 NBA All-Star and All-Defensive First Team member, began his journey as a rookie with the Chicago Bulls in 1985, briefly playing alongside Michael Jordan before being traded to the New York Knicks in 1988. His Knicks career spanned 10 years and numerous run-ins with the Bulls during the postseason.

Unfortunately, those Knicks teams never quite matched the success of this year’s Eastern Conference Champions. Oakley seemingly equates that to New York’s lack of leadership during his era, compared to what the team has now with Jalen Brunson.

They’ve gone on an 11-game winning streak behind the All-Star guard, who helped spark a major comeback in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers that continued their run. They’ll now take on a young, talented San Antonio Spurs team for a chance to earn the third championship in Knicks history, and first since 1973.

Oakley’s remarks could also be a direct shot at his former teammate, who appeared at recent playoff games with other former Knicks stars, including John Starks and Walt Frazier, to support the team. In addition to his comments on Rome’s show, he recently mentioned that his former Knicks teammates haven’t spoken to him during the team’s recent postseason run.

Nonetheless, if this year’s Knicks squad wins the championship, it doesn’t feel like a criticism of Ewing’s career, as he had to contend with Jordan’s greatness during his era.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM.