When Charles Barkley Made Good on a Bet and Kissed a Donkey Live on Air Over Yao Ming Doubt
In one of sports TV’s most hilarious moments, Charles Barkley was forced to pucker up and kiss a donkey on live television after losing a bet for underestimating rookie sensation Yao Ming. The unforgettable stunt became an instant classic—and a reminder to never bet against a 7’6” giant.
The 2002 NBA Draft was a spectacle of anticipation and uncertainty. At the center of it all stood Yao Ming, a towering 7’6” center from Shanghai, China. The Houston Rockets, holding the first overall pick, shocked many by selecting Yao—a player who had never competed outside his homeland, whose size was matched only by the questions surrounding his game. Would he adapt to the NBA’s speed and physicality? Could he handle the pressure of being the league’s first Chinese superstar?
Among the doubters was Charles Barkley, the Hall of Famer whose blunt opinions and larger-than-life personality had made him a fixture on TNT’s “Inside the NBA.” Barkley, never one to mince words, was skeptical. “I don’t think Yao Ming will score 19 points in a game this season,” he declared during a live segment, his voice echoing with conviction. Next to him sat Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson, both grinning as Barkley upped the ante.
“If Yao scores 19 in a game, I’ll kiss Kenny’s a** on national television,” Barkley boasted, drawing roars of laughter from the studio and viewers at home. It was classic Chuck—bold, brash, and, as it turned out, about to be spectacularly wrong.
The NBA season began, and all eyes were on Yao. His first few games were quiet, as he adjusted to the pace and physicality of the league. Barkley’s confidence only grew. But then, on November 17, 2002, the Houston Rockets faced the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers—a team anchored by Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA’s most dominant center.
Yao Ming stepped onto the Staples Center floor, facing the biggest challenge of his young career. The game was a battle, but Yao was unfazed. He moved with surprising agility for his size, sinking jump hooks and mid-range shots, grabbing rebounds, and blocking shots. By the final buzzer, the Rockets had pulled off a 93–89 victory. Yao’s stat line: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks.
The news traveled fast. In living rooms across America, fans remembered Barkley’s bet. The next night on TNT, Kenny Smith strutted into the studio with a mischievous grin, while Barkley looked sheepish. “Well, Chuck,” Smith teased, “you know what you have to do.”
Barkley, to his credit, didn’t back down. “I’m a man of my word,” he said, though the look in his eyes betrayed a flicker of panic. As the cameras rolled, and with guest Jesse “The Body” Ventura joining the fun, Barkley prepared to make good on his promise. But instead of Kenny’s backside, the producers led a donkey onto the set—a literal “a**,” much to the delight of the audience.
The studio erupted in laughter. Barkley, ever the showman, played it up. “I want America to know, when I say I’m going to do something, I do it!” he announced. Then, in front of millions of viewers, Charles Barkley puckered up and kissed the donkey’s rear. The moment was instantly iconic—part humiliation, part comedy, and all classic NBA on TNT.
The donkey-kissing incident became more than just a viral TV moment. It symbolized the unpredictability of sports, the humility required to admit when you’re wrong, and the joy that comes from not taking yourself too seriously. For Barkley, it was a lesson in humility delivered with a side of slapstick. For Yao Ming, it was a triumphant answer to his critics—a declaration that he belonged.
Yao’s rookie season continued to defy expectations. He averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Amar’e Stoudemire. He was a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie First Team, his blend of size, skill, and humility winning fans across the globe. More importantly, Yao became a bridge between cultures, the face of the NBA’s global expansion.
Off the court, Yao’s impact was even greater. His presence brought millions of new fans from China and around the world to the NBA. He handled the pressures of stardom with grace, always crediting his teammates and coaches for his success. His rivalry and friendship with Shaquille O’Neal became must-see TV, their matchups a blend of respect and competition.
As the years went on, Yao’s game blossomed. He made eight All-Star teams, earned five All-NBA selections, and led the Rockets to four playoff appearances. Injuries eventually forced him to retire in 2011, but his legacy was secure. In 2016, Yao Ming was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame—a fitting honor for a player who changed the game forever.
Charles Barkley, meanwhile, never tried to live down the donkey incident. If anything, he embraced it, retelling the story with his trademark self-deprecating humor. “Don’t ever bet against a 7’6” guy,” he joked in later years. The moment added to his legend as the NBA’s funniest analyst, a man unafraid to laugh at himself.
For Kenny Smith, the bet cemented his role as Barkley’s perfect foil—the straight man to Chuck’s clown, the happiest sidekick in sports television until Shaquille O’Neal joined the crew in 2011. The chemistry among the trio, built on moments like the donkey kiss, made “Inside the NBA” appointment viewing for basketball fans everywhere.
The story of Charles Barkley, Yao Ming, and the donkey is more than just a funny footnote in NBA history. It’s a reminder that sports are unpredictable, that humility is a virtue, and that sometimes, the best moments come when we’re willing to laugh at ourselves. Yao Ming proved his doubters wrong, becoming a global icon and a Hall of Famer. Charles Barkley kept his word, kissed a donkey, and gave the world a moment of pure joy.
And somewhere, in the annals of NBA lore, a donkey became an unlikely star—thanks to a bet, a rookie, and a lesson that’s as true today as it was then: never bet against a giant, especially when he’s out to prove you wrong.
