Whether you love him or hate him or find yourself somewhere in between, Charles Barkley is nothing if not entertaining. The 11-time NBA All-Star and broadcast legend seemingly has no filter, something so rare in sports coverage, and is at this point probably more famous for his hot takes than he even is for his Hall of Fame basketball career.

Once again, it was up to Charles to drop some truth bombs during a broadcast Friday, and as he is wont to do, he drifted from the standard playcalling duties and went off on the deep-blue, formerly great city of San Francisco. You know, the one where Gavin Newsom was mayor for two terms and where Kamala Harris was district attorney for seven years.

Barkley, also known as the “Round Mound of Rebound,” was discussing the development of a young player when he went off in a different direction:

Barkley spoke on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” about the All-Star candidacy of the Detroit Pistons’ young star Cade Cunningham. With the Golden State Warriors set to host the game at the Oracle Arena in San Francisco, Barkley said Cunningham will be there, but he won’t.

“He’s going to make the All-Star Team,” Barkley said. “I’m not going. I’m not going to that rat-infested place out in San Francisco.”

Watch:

“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

Several of his colleagues tried to shush the “Chuck Wagon,” but he was undeterred—and warned that they better watch out for the cats:

Barkley responded to one of his colleagues calling San Francisco “beautiful.”

“San Francisco is not a beautiful city. Rats. Cats. Y’all are not gonna make me like San Francisco. 

“No. Nope, nope, nope.”