16-year Veteran Eager to Provide Leadership for Bulls
Oak Returns to Chicago
July 20, 2001 -- On Thursday, the Bulls re-introduced Charles Oakley to the media. Oakley, who played his first three seasons in Chicago from 1985-88, will be called upon to provide the Bulls with his leadership and NBA experience. Upon his arrival to Chicago, Oakley came in to the Berto Center, took his physical and said, "I need to work." He went to the weight room and was greeted by Bulls' strength and conditioning consultant Al Vermeil, according to Jerry Krause, like a "son who had come home." He worked in the weight room for two hours.
Later that night, he dined with Coach Tim Floyd on Wednesday night to get acquainted and become familiarized with the direction of the team. He returned to the Berto Center on Thursday morning and worked out for nearly three more hours. That, Krause says, is his work ethic, one that identifies him as a Bull and as a Chicagoan. Here is what Krause and Oakley had to say as they met the media:
Jerry Krause:
"The young man is a very special athlete and a very special competitor. We have brought back to Chicago a guy who played over 2700 minutes last year in the NBA, and he played them all well. He had an outstanding season in every respect. He led a team (the Toronto Raptors) that had 16 wins when he got there three years ago that was a playoff team this year and was within one shot of going to the [conference] finals. A lot of that was due to his influence on the team--his taking the youngsters and teaching them how to play, being an example for them and doing the things that a professional does. When we had the opportunity to get Charles back here, the first thing that was on my mind--and this was germinating for quite awhile, even before the draft--I knew he would be the perfect tutor for our young guys so I wanted to see what we could do to bring the Oak back."
"First of all, he is still a quality NBA player. At as tough of a position as there is to play in this league, he does it on physical skill, brains and a heart that is second to none. There is a soft spot in everybody who knows Charles as a person. I can tell you this--everyone who has ever coached him would like him back. Every general manager who has ever had him wants him back."
"Through the years we have kept in touch pretty closely over the years and I have asked him for his opinion on young players. Many times, I'd say, 'Charles, would you want to get into a foxhole with this guy?' If Charles says he wants to get into a foxhole with a guy, then I know I want him on the Chicago Bulls. Charles is a warrior. He gets into that foxhole and goes to work."
Charles Oakley:
"I'm glad to be back. When I first got drafted, I was treated so well when I came to Chicago. I may be older now, but I still have a lot of heart and determination and I'm looking forward to playing with the young talent. I'm bringing back my work ethic back to Chicago and I want to help both on and off the court."
"I am coming back with a hope to change things around. I hope the young guys are willing to work. I know they are young--and I have nothing against their age--as long as they are willing to put the effort into it. I know Jerry (Krause) wouldn't have picked them, though, if he thought that was going to be a problem. We are going to get started and hope that we make something great happen in this city again."
On competing for an NBA title before he retires:
I compete every night out and that is the NBA challenge. Who knows what will happen? I am just here to do my job and we'll see what happens.
On the possibilities of being a coach someday:
When I'm done in the league, I'll leave all my doors open. I've played for a lot of different coaches and I know I have the skills to be a coach. I've played this long and I know a lot about the game. I've seen it a lot and I have a lot of abilities.
On being a mentor:
It's part of the game. I've been around for a long time and I'm just going to be myself. I'll show everyone how I do things and hope my teammates can follow me. I'm going to lead that way and everything else comes down to respect. I'll show the young guys respect, I'll give Jerry respect, I'll respect the organization and all of the fans. I'm not about going around like some big shot--that's not what I do.
On the young players in the NBA:
You just have to come in and show what you are all about. I'm not going to let the young guys come in and get away with things just because they are young. I'll tell then that that you choose to come into the league and everyone here--the coaches and the management--have plans laid out so they will have to abide by the rules. If you are too young, then you should have stayed in school.
On Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry:
It was good to hear what Jerry had to say about them. (Oakley and Krause talked at length about the two young players after Oakley asked for a 'scouting report' on them.) Now, I will have to see them on the hardwood. Once they do that, we can really see how they perform.
On this season:
We are going to take it one game at a time. This year is a whole new ballgame. The White Sox showed people last year that you can really win some games if everyone is together and on the same stream. You go out and you work and you are still going to lose some games. But when things start to work, you create a winning atmosphere. When things in the locker room are good, it can get contagious.
On his future:
I think I've got many more years left in me. I'm like a battery with a four-year warranty so I'll have three more after this. I'm just looking forward to coming in and playing here for now.
On playing time at his age:
I'm like an old car. You just keep riding. Minutes don't matter. If you've got a car with 15,000 miles on it, you're going to stop driving? I'm going to try to get 100,000 miles on every car I have. Just because I'm 37 doesn't mean I'm going downhill. I'm going uphill. I will never hurt my team on the court. All I do is help. I can pass the ball well. I can shoot the jumper. I can rebound, and I can defend. I don't think minutes are the factor with me because I don't break down.
On wearing his old number, 34:
I've been number 34 my whole career. I don't think it's retired yet. I'll have to see if they still have it in the closet. Since I left, I don't think anybody did that much with that number. All the best work was done in the three years I was here (Krause confirmed that Oakley could have the number, assuming he wanted it).
- Adam Fluck, Bulls.com
 Oakley isn't going to give the Bulls' young players any breaks: "If
they are too young (to work hard and abide by the rules), they should
have stayed in school." |
Jerry Krause:
"The young man is a very special athlete and a very special competitor. We have brought back to Chicago a guy who played over 2700 minutes last year in the NBA, and he played them all well. He had an outstanding season in every respect. He led a team (the Toronto Raptors) that had 16 wins when he got there three years ago that was a playoff team this year and was within one shot of going to the [conference] finals. A lot of that was due to his influence on the team--his taking the youngsters and teaching them how to play, being an example for them and doing the things that a professional does. When we had the opportunity to get Charles back here, the first thing that was on my mind--and this was germinating for quite awhile, even before the draft--I knew he would be the perfect tutor for our young guys so I wanted to see what we could do to bring the Oak back."
"First of all, he is still a quality NBA player. At as tough of a position as there is to play in this league, he does it on physical skill, brains and a heart that is second to none. There is a soft spot in everybody who knows Charles as a person. I can tell you this--everyone who has ever coached him would like him back. Every general manager who has ever had him wants him back."
"Through the years we have kept in touch pretty closely over the years and I have asked him for his opinion on young players. Many times, I'd say, 'Charles, would you want to get into a foxhole with this guy?' If Charles says he wants to get into a foxhole with a guy, then I know I want him on the Chicago Bulls. Charles is a warrior. He gets into that foxhole and goes to work."
Charles Oakley:
"I'm glad to be back. When I first got drafted, I was treated so well when I came to Chicago. I may be older now, but I still have a lot of heart and determination and I'm looking forward to playing with the young talent. I'm bringing back my work ethic back to Chicago and I want to help both on and off the court."
"I am coming back with a hope to change things around. I hope the young guys are willing to work. I know they are young--and I have nothing against their age--as long as they are willing to put the effort into it. I know Jerry (Krause) wouldn't have picked them, though, if he thought that was going to be a problem. We are going to get started and hope that we make something great happen in this city again."
 Oakley stated that if Marcus Fizer wants to start at power forward,
he's going to have to earn the job. |
I compete every night out and that is the NBA challenge. Who knows what will happen? I am just here to do my job and we'll see what happens.
On the possibilities of being a coach someday:
When I'm done in the league, I'll leave all my doors open. I've played for a lot of different coaches and I know I have the skills to be a coach. I've played this long and I know a lot about the game. I've seen it a lot and I have a lot of abilities.
On being a mentor:
It's part of the game. I've been around for a long time and I'm just going to be myself. I'll show everyone how I do things and hope my teammates can follow me. I'm going to lead that way and everything else comes down to respect. I'll show the young guys respect, I'll give Jerry respect, I'll respect the organization and all of the fans. I'm not about going around like some big shot--that's not what I do.
On the young players in the NBA:
You just have to come in and show what you are all about. I'm not going to let the young guys come in and get away with things just because they are young. I'll tell then that that you choose to come into the league and everyone here--the coaches and the management--have plans laid out so they will have to abide by the rules. If you are too young, then you should have stayed in school.
On Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry:
It was good to hear what Jerry had to say about them. (Oakley and Krause talked at length about the two young players after Oakley asked for a 'scouting report' on them.) Now, I will have to see them on the hardwood. Once they do that, we can really see how they perform.
On this season:
We are going to take it one game at a time. This year is a whole new ballgame. The White Sox showed people last year that you can really win some games if everyone is together and on the same stream. You go out and you work and you are still going to lose some games. But when things start to work, you create a winning atmosphere. When things in the locker room are good, it can get contagious.
On his future:
I think I've got many more years left in me. I'm like a battery with a four-year warranty so I'll have three more after this. I'm just looking forward to coming in and playing here for now.
On playing time at his age:
I'm like an old car. You just keep riding. Minutes don't matter. If you've got a car with 15,000 miles on it, you're going to stop driving? I'm going to try to get 100,000 miles on every car I have. Just because I'm 37 doesn't mean I'm going downhill. I'm going uphill. I will never hurt my team on the court. All I do is help. I can pass the ball well. I can shoot the jumper. I can rebound, and I can defend. I don't think minutes are the factor with me because I don't break down.
On wearing his old number, 34:
I've been number 34 my whole career. I don't think it's retired yet. I'll have to see if they still have it in the closet. Since I left, I don't think anybody did that much with that number. All the best work was done in the three years I was here (Krause confirmed that Oakley could have the number, assuming he wanted it).
- Adam Fluck, Bulls.com
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