Charles Barkley’s decision to boycott the 2025 NBA All-Star Game and avoid San Francisco was about as short-lived as his retirement. He has long had a rocky relationship with both the Golden State Warriors and the city itself, often expressing his disdain. Last month, he referred to the city as a “rat-infested place” and vowed to stay far from the All-Star festivities. However, true to form, Barkley made the trip for TNT’s final NBA All-Star Weekend, despite not having many friends in the city.
This weekend, Barkley faced backlash, being mercilessly booed by the crowd after attempting to compliment San Francisco while mentioning the city’s homeless population. Perhaps the crowd hadn’t forgotten his past comments about their town, including calling it home to “homeless crooks,” and stating that you need a “bulletproof vest” to walk around the city during last year’s All-Star Game altcast.
Charles Barkley doesn’t seem to be making any friends in San Francisco pic.twitter.com/69gSdBdQH9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 14, 2025
Barkley attempted to mend fences by giving another shoutout to a city that does not hold him in high regard. “Shoutout to the people of San Francisco — and especially the mayor (Daniel Lurie),” Chuck remarked on Sunday. “They put on a — I met the mayor a couple of times, man. And, hopefully, we can do something about the homeless population.”
San Francisco probably isn’t going to appreciate Charles Barkley’s latest attempt at a shoutout. pic.twitter.com/Ij75EAbkDW
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 17, 2025
Despite his thinly veiled barbs, Barkley has backed up his criticisms with action. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, he has pledged $250k to combat homelessness in the city and spent his Saturday volunteering, serving meals to those in need. While his comments may not endear him to the public, his actions are indeed making a measurable impact.
