Charles Barkley Jokes Pelicans Don't Even Deserve Offseason Trip to Cancun

Tom Dierberger | Apr 27, 2024

Jan 21, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns former player Charles Barkley in attendance. / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

If you're a New Orleans Pelicans fan, Saturday was bad enough. The Pelicans completely came apart in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, losing 106–85 to go down 3–0.

If you're a New Orleans fan who happens to call Galveston, Texas, home, things became significantly worse after the game.

Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley lit into the Pelicans on TNT's Inside the NBA, suggesting they had played so poorly as to earn a trip to the Gulf Coast city.

"We're not even gonna send them to Cancun. We're gonna send them to Galveston with that dirty a-- water," Barkley said, referencing the Gulf of Mexico beaches. "Y'all quit. Drive your a-- down to Galveston."

Chuck’s had it with the Pelicans 💀 pic.twitter.com/hko6mQY8kN

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 27, 2024

The moment left the panel—including Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal—in such hysterics that the show's crew could be heard laughing in the background.

"We're not even giving them a plane ticket to the beach. We're sending their a-- to Galveston, Texas," Barkley said. "Right where that dirty water washed up on the beach. They can't even get in the water."

If you work for Galveston's tourism bureau, you have a Monday ahead of you.