The Knicks: NBA franchise or smoldering crater that reeks of sulfur?

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

Charles Oakley bought a ticket a few rows back for Wednesday’s Clippers-Knicks game. Midway through the first quarter, he was surrounded by security. A scuffle broke out — video shows Oakley booping a security guard in the face and pushing another — and the Knicks’ legend was escorted out of the building, arrested and apparently charged with assault. Phil Jackson went into the tunnel in an unsuccessful attempt to mediate; friend of Oak Doc Rivers, coaching on the other sideline, said after the game he wanted to go help.

Oakley maintains that he did nothing to warrant the attention of security in the first place; the Knicks said he was acting in an “abusive manner” toward team owner James Dolan, who was sitting a few rows below Oakley. Dolan and Oakley have been feuding for some time.

After the incident, Oakley told his side of the story in an impromptu Instagram interview at Jimmy’s NYC. As one does. LeBron, a close friend of Carmelo Anthony, who is also feuding with the Knicks while being paid by them, posted an image of Oakley to Instagram. (Like LeBron, Oakley is from northeast Ohio.)

Also, the Knicks lost to the Clippers.

SAS 111, PHI 103
CLE 132, IND 117
WAS 114, BKN 110
DEN 106, ATL 117
LAL 102, DET 121
MIA 106, MIL 88
PHX 91, MEM 110
UTA 127, NOP 94
TOR 109, MIN 112
LAC 119, NYK 115
CHI 92, GSW 123
BOS 92, SAC 108 (?!)

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank supports President Trump. UA’s top football client Tom Brady is a noted friend of Trump. What about UA’s crown jewel, Stephen Curry? He told Marcus Thompson on Wednesday that he disagrees with Plank and considers Trump not an asset but an ass.

More Knicks: Carmelo Anthony is showing no indication he will allow Phil Jackson to force him out of New York. This is some straight up Captain America “no, you move” action. I love it.

Garrett Temple’s father Collis Temple Jr. was the first black basketball player at LSU. He tells Marc Spears how the insane level of racism he dealt with — from Press Maravich, from fans, from opponents, from David Duke — shaped him.

Absolutely essential Nikola Jokic profile from the great Lee Jenkins. So much wonderful background.

Fascinating Tom Haberstroh piece on how the Wizards use virtual reality to develop players. I’m with John Wall on the whole standing on a virtual plank virtually high up on a virtual building, staring down at the virtual ground hundreds of feet below. No, thank you.

The Pacers lost to the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but they’ve been on a tear since Monta Ellis moved the bench in place of Glenn Robinson III.

Excellent Howard Beck feature (is there any other type?) on Thon Maker, the Bucks’ secret unicorn.

DeAndre Jordan got a ball stuck in the video board at Madison Square Garden. It was *not* during a free throw attempt.

Willie Cauley-Stein with a confusingly awesome dunk. Like ... how?

Oscar Robertson said something nice about Russell Westbrook (minor shock, to be honest) and is heartened by the new-found activism streak among players.

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The NBA is the first league to own an eSports league dedicated to video games of its own sport.

Do not call DeMarcus Cousins — or anyone — crazy or unhinged.

Shaun Livingston has a theory on why folks call the Golden State Warriors soft.

Deadspin reports Adrian Wojnarowski is preparing to leave Yahoo! for ESPN, which would essentially be a 9.0 magnitude earthquake for NBA reporting.

Apparently yelling “Kevin Durant!” to distract Russell Westbrook is not OK yet it is effective.

Be excellent to each other.