The Golden State Warriors had the honor of hosting the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. However, the spotlight was not only on the game itself but also on NBA Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley.
Barkley was part of the TNT pregame show. However, before the game even tipped off, he met intense hostility from the crowd. As the broadcast team, including Ernie Johnson, prepared to set the stage for the night’s festivities, the atmosphere took an unexpected turn. Fans in attendance began booing and heckling Barkley relentlessly.
Fans’ action forced Johnson to step in and try to calm them down. Despite his efforts, the jeering only intensified. The situation escalated further when the crowd broke into a loud, explicit chant directed at Barkley, shouting, “F—, Chuck!” at Barkley.
Barkley typically embraces fan reactions, whether positive or negative. However, this time was different. Instead of brushing off the criticism, he turned around and gave the crowd a fiery response.
Charles Barkley 💀💀💀💀
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 16, 2025
(via @LeagueAlerts) pic.twitter.com/7yQwnapzCO
The backlash stemmed from Barkley’s previous comments about San Francisco’s well-documented homelessness crisis. During the broadcast leading up to the All-Star Game, he had made a remark about the city’s ongoing struggles.
“Hopefully, we can do something about the homeless population here,” Barkley said.
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Charles Barkley Stays Loyal To Turner Sports
ESPN’s recent agreement to license Inside the NBA from Turner has raised questions about the show’s future, but Charles Barkley isn’t going anywhere. Despite receiving offers from NBC and Amazon, the former NBA player has made it clear that his loyalty remains with Turner Sports on an episode of The Steam Room podcast.
“I’m informing NBC that I will not accept their offer. I’m going to cancel my future meetings with Amazon. I want to thank NBC, especially Mark Lazarus and Greg Hughes for offering me a contract. I want to thank the guys at Amazon. Y’all have been amazing, but my heart is always and will be at Turner Sports,” Barkley said.
Barkley’s decision reinforces his deep connection to Inside the NBA. He has been a part of it since 2000. Over the years, his chemistry with Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal has made the program a fan favorite.
