Denver Nuggets' Rocky Revealed as Highest-Paid NBA Mascot With $625,000 USD Salary

Over the weekend, it was revealed that the Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion, is the NBA's highest-paid mascot, taking home $625,000 USD a year, almost ten times that of the average $60,000 USD salary for a league mascot. Mascots are tasked with keeping the crowd entertained during the game, often making their way through the crowd and taking the stage during the halftime show with high-flying stunts.

Rocky first debuted in 1990 when the Nuggets were at an all-time low and were struggling to sell tickets at home games. Ken Soloman is the only known person to portray the character. Other top five highest-paid mascots include Harry the Hawk at $600,000 USD and Benny The Bull at $400,000 USD. The top performer recognized for the 2021-2022 season is Los Angeles Clippers' Chuck the Condor who took home the mascot of the year award. For reference, the minimum salary for a player in the NBA is $1,017,781 USD and the average WNBA salary is $102,751 USD.

Take a look at Rocky in action below.

In other news, legendary wrestler Antonio Inoki dies at age 79.