The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco and Charles Barkley has no interest in attending.
TNT will televise the All-Star Game, which means Barkley is expected to, and ultimately will, attend. But Thursday night, the brash analyst made it clear he has no desire to step foot in San Francisco. Barkley’s declaration occurred during Inside the NBA’s highlight segment, as Ernie Johnson noted the great season Cade Cunningham is having for the Detroit Pistons.
“I’m not going. I’m not going to that rat-infested place out in San Francisco…San Francisco is not a beautiful city.” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/7fXWMCV5um
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 17, 2025
“Listen, he’s gonna make the All-Star Game,” Barkley said of Cunningham before noting he won’t be there. “I’m not going. I’m not going to that rat-infested place out in San Francisco.”
Johnson quickly urged Barkley to stop and just focus on the highlights. Kenny Smith, meanwhile, chimed in to claim San Francisco is a “beautiful” city.
“San Francisco is not a beautiful city!” Barkley pushed back. “Rats. Cats…Y’all are not gonna make me like San Francisco. No. Nope, nope, nope, nope.”
Barkley might not want to attend the NBA All-Star Game this season, but he did attend last year as part of the alternate broadcast on truTV. And during a crossover exchange with the main broadcast, Barkley abruptly bashed San Francisco for its “homeless crooks,” adding that you need a “bulletproof vest” to walk around the city.
Welcome to 2025, where the NBA All-Star Game is heading to San Francisco. And despite his reluctance, Barkley will be attending and he will be walking around the city — likely without a bulletproof vest.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com