Charles Barkley expressed optimism for San Francisco during the NBA All-Star Game broadcast, revealing that he met with Mayor Daniel Lurie. The city is set to host the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, and Barkley has previously criticized it for its crime and homelessness issues. However, during the broadcast, he shared a hopeful message about the city’s potential for improvement.
“Shoutout to the people of San Francisco, especially the mayor. I’ve met the mayor a couple of times, and he’s been tremendous. Hopefully, we can address the homeless population,” Barkley stated during the game featuring Team Shaquille O’Neal and Team Candace Parker.
Despite his previous decision to skip the game due to his negative views on San Francisco, Barkley acknowledged the mayor’s efforts. He had previously referred to the city as “rat-infested” and dismissed its beauty, stating, “San Francisco is not a beautiful city. Rats. Cats. Y’all are not gonna make me like San Francisco. No. Nope, nope, nope.”
Barkley has a history of criticizing San Francisco, including during last year’s NBA All-Star Game alternative broadcast, where he posed a choice to Reggie Miller between playing in cold Indianapolis or “being around a bunch of homeless crooks in San Francisco.” Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green responded by calling Barkley “crazy” and suggested he was not welcome in the city. In contrast, Parker expressed her love for San Francisco, to which Barkley retorted, “No we don’t… You can’t even walk around down there,” even suggesting that one might need a “bulletproof vest” to navigate the city.
Mayor Lurie has committed to making San Francisco’s streets safer, addressing the housing crisis, and tackling issues related to drugs and behavioral health.
