Retired NBA All-Star Charles Oakley has returned to Cleveland, Ohio and will host several community events at The Madison during this week’s 2022 All-Star Weekend through his non-profit organization, the Charles Oakley Foundation. He has also partnered with My Wager Score, a company that works to educate sports bettors about financial health and with Entain Foundation US to put on this week’s activities.
"We're asking folks to Bet Smart and Give Back," Oakley said. "My Wager Score is the future of sports betting because it creates financial safety for players and positive impact for society. We want folks to see that they can take fair play into their own hands by getting their score at MyWagerScore.com."
Oakley also will cook and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for the residents of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) on February 18. LMM is state's largest homeless shelter.
"It was only right with the NBA All-Star coming to my hometown, that I got my team together so we could get out in the community to make a difference," he said.
Oakley began his NBA career in 1985 when he was the 9th overall pick from HBCU Virginia Union University by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was later traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he met and befriended teammate Michael Jordan. While playing with the Bulls, Oakley was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He recently wrote a memoir titled “The Last Enforcer,” which chronicles his childhood growing up in Cleveland and his journey while playing in the NBA.
