Charles Barkley confronted by San Antonio mayor over criticism of city: ‘You can’t teach class’

It was a long time coming for Sir Charles. During the pregame coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals this past Wednesday, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones finally had a face-to-face confrontation with Charles Barkley regarding his long history of poking fun at her city.

Barkley Called Out on Air

Taking a lighthearted jab at the former Auburn star, Jones remarked, "I learned a long time ago, you can’t teach courage, you can’t teach class, and Mr. Barkley reminds us of that."

Barkley’s critiques of San Antonio have become infamous over the years, specifically centering on his relentless teasing regarding the size of the city's women and the local obsession with churros. In 2010, the analyst famously claimed, "They ain’t got no skinny women down there."

To break the tension, the mayor presented Barkley with a box of churros, which he happily accepted. The Hall of Famer quickly attempted to smooth things over, stating, "Mayor, I am so glad to be back in your beautiful city. I took my walk today, and everybody was fantastic. They know I’m just joking around."

Drama on the Court

The tension didn't stop with the pregame banter. The evening featured a wild moment when a fan ran onto the court midway through the fourth quarter, seemingly hoping to snap a selfie with Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama. The fan even recorded the stunt to document the immediate consequences of his court-rushing antics.

Knicks Take Game 1

On the scoreboard, the New York Knicks pulled off a gritty comeback. Trailing by 14 points in the second half, the Knicks stormed back to secure a 105-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 30 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a solid double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The win marks New York’s 12th consecutive playoff victory, making them just the seventh team in NBA history to accomplish such a streak.

For the Spurs, Wembanyama finished his finals debut with 26 points and 12 rebounds, though he struggled to find his rhythm, shooting just 6 for 21 from the field. OG Anunoby added 17 points to the winning effort for the Knicks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.