The Last Enforcer, Charles Oakley
The Last Enforcer, Charles Oakley
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The Last Enforcer
Outrageous Stories From the Life and Times of One of the NBA's Fiercest Competitors

Author: Charles Oakley

Narrator: Adam Lazarre-White

Unabridged: 9 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/01/2022


Synopsis

In this “incredible read on some incredible days and nights in the old association” (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN senior NBA insider) Charles Oakley—one of the toughest and most loyal players in NBA history—tells his unfiltered stories about his basketball journey and his relationships with Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, James Dolan, Donald Trump, George Floyd, and many others.

If you ask a New York Knicks fan about Charles Oakley, you better prepare to hear the love and a favorite story or two. But his individual stats weren’t remarkable, and while he helped power the Knicks to ten consecutive playoffs, he never won a championship. So why does he hold such a special place in the minds, hearts, and memories of NBA players and fans?

Because over the course of nineteen years in the league, Oakley was at the center of more unbelievable encounters than Forrest Gump, and nearly as many fights as Mike Tyson. He was the friend you wish you had, and the enemy you wish you’d never made. If any opposing player was crazy enough to start a fight with him, or God forbid one of his teammates, Oakley would end it.

“I can’t remember every rebound I grabbed but I do have a story—the true story—of just about every punch and slap on my resume,” he says.

In The Last Enforcer, Oakley shares one incredible story after the next—all in his signature “unflinchingly tough, honest, and ultimately endearing” (Harvey Araton, New York Times bestselling author) style—about his life in the paint and beyond, fighting for rebounds and respect. You’ll look back on the era of the 1990s NBA, when tough guys with rugged attitudes, unflinching loyalty, and hard-nosed work ethics were just as important as three-point sharpshooters. You’ll feel like you were on the court, in the room, can’t believe what you just saw, and need to tell everyone you know about it.

About Charles Oakley

Charles Oakley played nineteen seasons in the NBA. He started his professional career in 1985 with the Chicago Bulls, where he became teammate, protector, and close friend to Michael Jordan, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In 1988, he was traded to the New York Knicks, where he formed a starting lineup with fellow NBA All-Stars Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and Mark Jackson. The Knicks made the playoffs in each of the ten seasons Oakley was there. Oakley continued his career with three seasons on the Toronto Raptors, and retired in 2004 after playing additional seasons with Chicago, Washington, and Houston. He has given time and support to more than a hundred charities, and today can often be found cooking for people in impoverished and underprivileged communities through his Charles Oakley Foundation, a nonprofit that organizes fundraisers and community-building events. He splits his time between Atlanta, New York, and Cleveland, where he grew up. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Matt

Charles Oakley would like you to know: - All of the current NBA players are spoiled big babies and the sport has become unwatchable - While he lost a bunch of times in the playoffs it was never his fault - He is very tough, while Charles Barkley is not very tough - James Dolan is a giant bozo (fair due......more

Goodreads review by Glen

I won this book in a goodreads drawing. Charles Oakley tells us about his life and career in the NBA, and complains that the NBA is soft, which it is. He goes through his time with the Bulls and the Knicks, complains about the incident where Shaq acted like he was going to hit somebody for fouling hi......more

So glad I pre-ordered. They don't make 'em like Oak anymore. I always enjoyed watching him play, no matter what uniform he wore, and I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. If you enjoyed 80's and 90's NBA games, then the book is for you. If you like stories of people coming from meager means an......more