Gentry’s Clamming Up on Oakley

Coach Alvin Gentry said Friday he has made his last public comments about an incident at Wednesday’s morning shoot-around in which eyewitnesses said Charles Oakley charged him and threatened him profanely, before bystanders, including Michael Jordan, stepped in. “To me, all it does is give credibility to an idiot,” Gentry said. “It was so minor, it doesn’t even belong in the newspaper. This is the last time I’ll say anything about it. The guy didn’t rush me. He didn’t have to be restrained. It’s such ... It’s such a minute thing. I would never even write about it. I would write about the game.”

With that, Gentry walked away from reporters, striking up a conversation with two assistant coaches some distance away.

The NBA decided it would not suspend Oakley for his actions and has refused to comment further.

According to league sources, the Washington Wizards forward blames Gentry for reporting an incident more than two years ago in which Oakley, then with the Toronto Raptors, sucker-punched Jeff McInnis, now with the Portland Trail Blazers, at a morning shoot-around in a dispute over a woman.

Oakley was suspended for three games and fined $15,000 by the league for striking McInnis. Through a Trail Blazer official, McInnis declined to comment late Thursday night.

Several sources close to the situation say Gentry wishes to downplay Wednesday’s incident because he doesn’t want to give Oakley further reason to continue a pattern of aggression against him and McInnis.

This is at least the third significant incident in the last two seasons involving Oakley and the Clippers. Oakley, a member of the Bulls for the 2001-02 season, twice initiated confrontations with McInnis during a game at Chicago.

Hours before that game, Oakley threatened the life of a member of the Clippers’ security detail, who was escorting McInnis around the United Center, during a confrontation in a hallway near the locker rooms.

A Times reporter witnessed a portion of that incident.

After the game, Oakley drove his white SUV from the Bulls’ parking area to the loading dock where the Clipper bus was parked, blocking its path for an estimated three minutes before arena security personnel asked Oakley to move his vehicle.

Friday, more than one person on the bus that night recalled Oakley’s actions.

Those incidents were reported to the NBA, but no public action was taken against Oakley.

Asked about Wednesday’s incident, Oakley said Thursday after the Wizards’ practice at Salt Lake City, “Didn’t nothing happen.”

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Gentry said he has not spoken to Michael Olowokandi since the team’s starting center had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Feb. 3 and referred medical questions to athletic trainer Jasen Powell.

Powell said Olowokandi’s rehabilitation has been going well, but stressed that he would probably be lost to the team for as long as six weeks.

“Michael wants to make sure he comes back at 100% and nothing short of that,” Powell said. “He is shooting to come back before the end of the season.”

Olowokandi is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

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TONIGHT

vs. Boston, 7:30, Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (1150).

Records -- Clippers 18-33, Celtics 29-22.

Record vs. Celtics (2001-02) -- 0-2.

Update -- The Clippers on Friday placed Wang Zhizhi on the injured list because of lower back spasms and activated Cherokee Parks. Wang averaged 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 23 games. Parks is averaging 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds.