Charles Barkley blasted San Francisco during the NBA All-Star Game, claiming the city has a problem with “homeless crooks.”
The former NBA star was part of TNT's alternative broadcast during Sunday night's game in Indianapolis, along with Warriors player Draymond Green and former Pacers guard Reggie Miller.
As Green sat at the microphone at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana, he first took a look at the host city.
“Hey Reggie, we love you, let's not have another All-Star Game in Indiana.” “Let's make it last, my friend,” the controversial forward said.
That sparked a brutal response from Barkley, who spent 16 seasons in the NBA with the 76ers, Suns and Rockets.
Charles Barkley wreaked havoc on San Francisco during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night
The former NBA star was part of TNT's alternative broadcast during the game in Indianapolis
“Hey Reggie,” Barkley said, “if you had the chance to be in the cold or near a group of homeless hoodlums in San Francisco, which would you take?”
His comment shocked his fellow analysts and Green responded: “That's crazy! You're not welcome, they won't let you in!”
But the 60-year-old Alabama native added, “You can't even walk around down there.”
Next year's All-Star Game is scheduled to take place at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
It's not the first time the former striker has criticized San Francisco (pictured here).
Green hit back, insisting, “You can walk around.” But that only prompted another scathing comment from Barkley, who replied, “Yes, with a bulletproof vest.”
It's not the first time the former striker has criticized San Francisco. During the 2022 Western Conference Finals in Dallas, the roof of the American Airlines Center began leaking.
During the brief rain delay, Barkley said, “The bad thing about all this rain is that it doesn't rain in San Francisco to clean up the dirty streets they got there.”
He added: “San Francisco, it's a great city, but all the dirt and homelessness, that needs to be cleared from the streets.”