As the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks are set to collide on Sunday for the Conference Semis, Charles Oakley can only feel nostalgic of his inclusion on the heated rivalry which started in the late 90s.
The retired muscling cager recalled the Knicks-Heat conflict as something like the legendary Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier bout, with both teams throwing haymakers on each of their encounters.
“Oh, man. It was a lot. It was like Ali and Joe Frazier. Thrilla in Manila. When we play Miami, it’s going to be a lot of contact. There’ve been fights, there’ve been all-out-warfare,” Oakley told Jake Uitti of HoopsHype. “Had Pat Riley, then he went against us. Jeff Van Gundy – I mean, so, there’s a lot of conversation with them two teams.”
The Knicks-Heat rivalry highlighted Pat Riley as their central figure. Riley, who coached the Knicks for four seasons from 1991 to 1995, left the franchise in a controversial fashion to become the Heat’s team president and lead mentor.
Following the shady career switch of Riley, New York and Miami went on to establish an embattled regard for themselves.
Both clubs met in the playoffs each year from 1997 to 2000, with all four of those series reaching Game 7. The Knicks and the Heat went on to split the four-series saga, and authored some notable moments and brawls in league history.