Exclusive | Knicks willing to welcome Charles Oakley back to Garden family under one condition

INDIANAPOLIS — The Knicks have opened the door.The ball is in Charles Oakley’s court. They would welcome him back with open arms as a celebrated team alumnus if he drops his lawsuit against owner James Dolan and Madison Square Garden, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Post. The suit stems from his infamous ejection from the Garden in 2017 following an altercation with security guards. Oakley was initially banned from the Garden by Dolan, but that ban has long been lifted.Oakley can purchase a ticket and attend any game he wants. But if he drops the suit, he’d fully re-enter the Knicks family and get all the perks that come with that.

A legion of ex-Knicks attend games with courtside seats through the team, are shown on the jumbotron and regularly attend team events.Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, John Starks, Larry Johnson, Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Carmelo Anthony, Stephon Marbury and others are constant fixtures at games.

There are monetary opportunities through the team as well. Oakley brought assault and battery claims against Dolan and the Garden, though the case has twice been dismissed.It was reinstated again by an appeals court in September.

The main question centers around whether security used reasonable force.Other claims have been thrown out. Oakley, now 61, played 10 years with the Knicks between 1988-98.

He emerged as a fan favorite and key part of a core that was a perennial contender — the Knicks made the playoffs every year Oakley was with the team.His tough, gritty style of play helped shape the Knicks’ identity during those years. The bad blood between Oakley and the team has lasted eight years and is still ongoing.

But for their part, the Knicks are ready to put it all behind them....