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Charles Barkley says he's not going to 'rat-infested' San Francisco for All-Star Game: It's not a beautiful city

hoopshype
·2 min read
NEW YORK CITY - OCTOBER 29: TNT analyst Charles Barkley laughs as the NBA season tips off as TNT broadcasts outside the Flatiron Building on October 29 , 2013 in New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)

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. “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.”

Source: Awful Announcing

More on this storyline

We’re hearing Shaquille O’Neal and TNT Sports are close to a contract extension that would keep The Diesel on the Emmy Award–winning Inside the NBA. But just in case, commissioner Adam Silver is urging O’Neal to keep the band together. During an appearance on The Big Podcast with Shaq, the commissioner talked about the value the show brings to the league. Even if the cast’s brutally honest opinions (hello, Sir Charles) tick off some star players. -via Front Office Sports / January 17, 2025

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.” -via Awful Announcing / January 17, 2025

Although it hasn’t officially gone public, the pugnacious voices of “Inside the NBA” (Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, to name two) are expected to drop in on the Unrivaled set from time to time, which can only enhance its credibility and reach. “We’re going to be tapping in through the crew over at ‘Inside the NBA,’” Bazzell said. “There’s going to be a lot of collaborative crossover between our players, and then what they’re doing on the NBA program. -via Sports Business Journal / January 11, 2025

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Charles Barkley says he's not going to 'rat-infested' San Francisco for All-Star Game: It's not a beautiful city