Charles Barkley criticized the New Orleans Pelicans for their poor performance in their playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as they were swept in four games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Williams each scored at least 20 points in Oklahoma City’s 106-85 victory. This marked the Thunder’s first playoff series win since they made it to the NBA Finals in 2016. Barkley humorously remarked that instead of heading to Cancun for a vacation, the Pelicans were headed for Galveston, Texas due to their lackluster play in the series.
In an exchange on TNT, Shaquille O’Neal asked Barkley where the Pelicans were headed, to which Barkley responded with “Galveston,” prompting Shaq to burst out laughing. Barkley elaborated that the Pelicans were not deserving of a trip to the beach in Cancun due to their poor effort in the series. Instead, he suggested sending them to Galveston, where the water is dirty and not suitable for swimming. Barkley emphasized that the Pelicans did not even try in the series and therefore did not deserve a plane ticket to the beach, but rather a trip to Galveston, Texas.
The loss to the Thunder ended the Pelicans’ playoff run, while the Thunder advance to face the winner of the series between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas currently leads the series 2-1, setting up a potential matchup with Oklahoma City in the next round of the playoffs. The Pelicans’ disappointing performance and subsequent elimination from the playoffs drew criticism from Barkley and others, as they failed to compete effectively against the Thunder.
Barkley’s comments on the Pelicans’ playoff defeat and destination for Galveston, Texas, were part of the banter and analysis on the TNT broadcast following the game. The humorous exchange between Barkley and O’Neal highlighted the disappointment in the Pelicans’ performance and the lack of effort they displayed in the series. Despite the joking tone, Barkley’s criticism reflected the frustration with the Pelicans’ inability to compete at a high level in the playoffs and their early exit from the postseason.
As the Thunder celebrated their series victory and looked ahead to their next opponent in the playoffs, the Pelicans faced a disappointing end to their season. Their lackluster performance against the Thunder and subsequent sweep highlighted the challenges they will need to address in the offseason to improve and compete at a higher level in the future. Barkley’s criticism of the Pelicans’ effort and performance served as a reminder of the expectations and demands of playoff basketball and the accountability that comes with competing at a high level in the NBA postseason.
