In a tale that has become legendary, Kenn Solomon, the man formerly behind the Denver Nuggets’ mascot Rocky, recently recounted his unforgettable mid-game encounter with NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
The incident, which took place during a game in the early 1990s, left Solomon with a loose tooth and bleeding lips, but it also cemented his place in the Mascots Hall of Fame.
Solomon, who held the mantle of Rocky for 30 years, shared the story on award-winning journalist Pablo Torre’s podcast. He recalled how he had been taunting Barkley, who was known for his short temper and off-court antics.
“At the time, Charles was the bad guy, making news off the court,” Solomon began. “One game, as he’s walking around, I kept taunting him a little bit, throwing a little jab as I walked by… And then finally, later in the game, he drew a line in the sand on the court. He stops, looks at me, and says, ‘It’s cool man, alright, come on, come on, let’s shake on this, let’s shake.'”
What happened next was unexpected. As Solomon walked over to shake Barkley’s hand, the NBA star grabbed him, pulled him in, and delivered a left-handed punch to his face.
“My knees buckle, I’m out… My nose is bleeding, my tooth is loose, my lips are bleeding. He hit me,” Solomon recounted.
Despite the physical altercation, Solomon later realized that Barkley was also performing for the fans. Their feud continued over the next few years, making the Nuggets a must-see attraction whenever Sir Charles was in town. The rivalry even spilled into Barkley’s post-retirement career, with the two exchanging playful jabs during the 2023 NBA Finals.
Solomon’s tenure as Rocky came to an end in 2020, but he returned for one last stint in the suit during Denver’s first NBA Finals appearance in 2023. The veteran acrobat ended his career on a high note, retiring as an NBA champion after the Nuggets’ victory over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Finals.
