After Patrick Ewing revealed he has tested positive for COVID-19, his former New York Knicks teammate Charles Oakley offered words of encouragement.
After New York Knicks fans watched from afar as Charles Oakley seemingly separated himself from Patrick Ewing in making several critical comments about his former teammate, the Oak Man offered words of encouragement on Friday upon learning Ewing has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Sometimes it takes unique circumstances to bring people back together.
In a tweet, Oakley said, “I went to war with you for ten years. I won’t leave you on the battlefield now. Get well Patrick. More fights ahead.”
I went to war with you for ten years. I won’t leave you on the battlefield now. Get well Patrick. More fights ahead. @CoachEwing33 #BrothersFight #PatrickEwing #GetWellBrother pic.twitter.com/1ZkR03bccc
— Charles Oakley (@CharlesOakley34) May 23, 2020
Charles Oakley had been critical of former Knicks teammate Patrick Ewing.
Following the release of ESPN/Netflix’s documentary The Last Dance, which focuses on Michael Jordan‘s dominance in the 1990s, when Ewing and Oakley were teammates, the blunt power forward has been quite critical of Ewing’s play in the playoffs.
Oakley suggested on multiple media outlets that Ewing lacked the leadership to help the Knicks conquer the dynasty Bulls.
While Ewing took the high road in response to the criticism, Oakley doubled down against the Hall-of-Fame center in an interview on Barstool Radio earlier this month.
The host asked if there was bad blood between the former teammates, and Oakley said he wasn’t sure, but he stood firm behind his comments, originally made to the New York Post.
Ewing and Oakley were teammates for ten seasons in New York, with Oakley playing the role of right-hand man slash bodyguard, similar to his role for Michael Joran in Chicago before arriving to play at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks frontline of Ewing, Oakley, and Mason represented a rough and tumble style of play, championed by head coach Pat Riley, and adored by fans at the Garden.
Ewing offered a positive outlook on his COVID-19 diagnosis, as he recovers in isolation in a local Washington, DC hospital. Hopefully, something positive can come out of his health troubles, as he shared the news as an example that anyone can be affected.
Perhaps it also leads Oakley to cool off his unwarranted criticism of the Big Fella.