Not even a week since Charles Barkley was appointed as All-Star General Manager and he’s already out in the open with his issues. Yes, just recently, the NBA officially announced the new format for the NBA All-Star Games that will be used starting with the 2025 event. Per the league’s announcement, the ASG will utilize a four-team tournament-style format. This means more All-Star selections. Coincidentally, Barkley’s issue also lies with the selection process of the All-Stars.

During one of the recent segments of NBA on TNT, Barkley got into a discussion regarding All-Star events.

“One of the reasons I hate the All-Star situation is… The fans don’t pay attention. They just vote for household names,” he said. Shaquille O’Neal, meanwhile, taunting Chuck, asked him how he managed multiple All-Star selections if fans didn’t pay attention.

While Shaq tried disregarding Charles Barkley as a household name, the former Philadelphia 76ers star had a hilarious response. “Go to my household. Got pictures of me everywhere,” Barkley said, leaving everyone in splits.

On a more serious note, though, Charles Barkey might have raised a good point. For those unaware, it was from the 1974-75 season that the fans first got the chance to vote for All-Star starters.

The seven reserves were, however, selected by the head coaches of each of the teams. Another change came in season 2016-17, when active players and media also got a share in the voting process. But the fans still accounted for 50 percent of the votes to determine starters. The rest is divided equally between players and media.

But now with a four-team format and honorary General Managers—Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Candace Parker—taking charge, the selection process is witnessing some changes once again. However, it’s not as if Chuck is expressing his issues with the voting system only after gaining a position in the All Star system.

The time when Charles Barkley used satire to ridicule the fan voting in All-Star events

Barkley has never been one to hold his words. Especially when it comes to NBA All-Star fan voting, he doesn’t shy away from calling it like he sees it. Back in 2019, Barkley hilariously roasted the fan-voting process after the first round of results was announced, even comparing it to presidential elections.

“What happened last time we let [the fans] make a big decision?” Barkley joked. “Get a clue: White House,” he added. The results that year backed up his frustration. Luka Doncic, still a rookie, and a resurgent Derrick Rose, received more votes than Kevin Durant and James Harden.

In the East, fan favorites like Dwyane Wade and Vince Carter outshined rising stars like Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum. Clearly, an indication that fans lean toward popular names at the moment. No wonder Barkley threw shade at the fan voting again in 2023.

“We let the fans vote. Look what happened last time they got to vote for President,” he said, throwing shade with his trademark wit. Of course, he later clarified the joke wasn’t aimed at the most recent election. Now, the fan voting is obviously not going away anytime soon. But the new format for All-Star even may solve part of Barkley’s issue with fan voting, as the addition of Rising Stars to the format gives underdogs a chance at the All-Star appearance.