Mascots play an integral role in providing motivation for a franchise and its supporters. They are there to entertain the crowd and keep the energy high at all times. Fun activities, stunts, comedy acts, skits are some of the things a mascot delivers on every game night. They are mostly present during the home games and also take part in community events.
Rocky the Mountain Lion has been the official mascot of the Denver Nuggets since 1990, and is known for his backwards half-court shot during Nuggets’ home games.
Rocky the Mountain Lion stands at 5 ft 10 inches tall and weighs 154 lbs. The inspiration behind the character came from a Puma, a species of the cat family, found in the foothills outside Denver, Colorado. Rocky is famous amongst the NBA fanatics for his sense of humour and acrobatic performances.
Rocky the Mountain Lion Salary
According to online sources. Rocky the Mountain Lion has an annual salary of $625,000, making him the league's highest paid mascot. On an average, NBA mascots earn between $50,000 - $100,000 per annum. Rocky makes almost six times more than an average league mascot.
After Rocky the Mountain Lion’s salary was made public, several WNBA stars raised an issue about the pay difference on social media. They were not happy to learn that the mascots in the NBA earn more than players in the WNBA.
Renowned actor Ken Solomon was the first person to perform as Rocky. Solomon debuted as Rocky in December 1990, and was the mascot for almost three decades. According to recent reports, Solomon has now retired and has passed on the role to his son Drake.
Rocky has performed insane stunts over the years and has proven to be one of the most athletic mascots in NBA history. He is the only mascot to ever represent the Denver Nuggets and has risen to popularity quickly. Lastly, NBA games would not be half as fun without mascots like Rocky, who go above and beyond to keep us entertained.
FAQs
A. The Denver Nuggets mascot is Rocky the Mountain Lion.
A. Rocky the Mountain Lion was officially introduced as team mascot on December 15, 1990.
A. The mascot's birthday is celebrated on December 15.
A. Rocky the Mountain Lion is widely seen wearing the Nuggets jersey along with blue and yellow attire.
A. Rocky the Mountain Lion is the only official mascot for the Nuggets. There have been no other mascots for the franchise.
