Rocky the mascot is a beloved figure in the sports world. Known for his high energy and entertaining antics, Rocky brings excitement and fun to any sporting event. He is the go-to guy for pumping up the crowd and boosting team morale. Dressed in a flashy costume, complete with oversized hands and a big grin, Rocky is instantly recognizable. His wild dance moves and acrobatic stunts never fail to get the crowd on their feet, cheering and clapping. Whether it's a touchdown, a home run, or a three-pointer, Rocky is there to celebrate with the fans and athletes.

Denver Nuggets' Rocky makes 10 times more than the average NBA mascot

Rocky, the Denver Nuggets' mascot, earns a $625,000 salary that allows him to trump all other NBA mascots.

The Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat are set to face off in this year's NBA Finals. The high-stakes seven-game series will crown the league’s best team of this season and decide which franchise gets to take home the coveted Larry O’Brien championship trophy.

Denver Nuggets / Schedule

A report by Boardroom last October revealed that the Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion, is the NBA’s highest-paid mascot, taking home $625,000 a year, almost 10 times that of the average $60,000 salary for a league mascot. Rocky will be tasked with his toughest test yet as he looks to fire up the crowd in Denver at the Nuggets’ first-ever NBA Finals appearance.

A recent report from Sports Business Journal indicates that the list’s next highest earner is the Hawks’ mascot, Harry the Hawk. The bright red hawk gets paid a handsome $600,000 each year, just ahead of the third-highest earner, Chicago’s Benny the Bull, who collects $400,000 annually.

No. 4 on the list of highest-paid mascots is Go the Gorilla, mascot of the Suns. He reportedly is paid $200,000 per year, double that of the Hornets’ mascot, Hugo the Hornet, who ranks fifth on the list at $100,000. Rocky doesn’t just get the money for clapping hands and hyping the crowd up, but also because of its over-the-top stunts that it pulls off during the games.

The Nuggets’ fearless animal leader was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006, solidifying its legacy and justifying the paycheck. There were certainly some conversations and salary negotiations after the person within the Rocky costume passed out when being rappelled from the rafters onto the court back in 2013.

Raptor, the Toronto Raptors mascot, ruptured his Achilles tendon during a game. Bango The Buck, the Milwaukee Bucks deer, had to undergo surgery three times: two knee ligament injuries and one serious ankle injury. The accumulation of physical problems forced the person behind the animal costume (Kevin Vandervolk) to retire in 2014, at the age of 36. To reach those above-average salaries, let alone the highest of the best pets, mascots need to be media-ready. In a survey among fans of all the pavilions, Rocky was the most popular mascot with 3.90 points on a scale of 1-5. He narrowly beat Benny The Bull (3.86) and Grizz (3.81), the grizzly bear for the Memphis Grizzlies. Normally, mascots start off on a base salary of about $25,000 for home games (41 regular season games guaranteed) and amounts per hour in events and appearances outside the arena and on game days. For instance, Harry The Hawk charges $500 per hour. Hugo The Hornet, the wasp of Charlotte Hornets, receives $1,500 per appearance and earns a total of more than $100,000 a year. Rumble The Bison of the Oklahoma City Thunder rounds out a salary of more than $100,000 a year thanks to $650 for every hour outside of games and $400 for private visits between 30 and 45 minutes.

Who the Heck Is in the Rocky Mascot Suit These Days?

Who carries the nuclear football? Did aliens build the pyramids? Are Tupac and Biggie actually still alive?

The deep state has protected answers to these questions to an impressive degree, leaving many of us still wondering. But the powers-that-be have nothing on Kroenke Sports and Entertainment when it comes to closely guarding secrets.

In particular, the Denver Nuggets, a team owned by KSE, absolutely refuse to reveal any details about the person inside the suit of Rocky, the beloved mountain lion mascot.

Certainly, part of the mascot allure is that fans don't know who is inside the suit of characters like the Phillie Phanatic, Benny the Bull or Gritty. But an exception should be made in the situation of Rocky, because the story is just that compelling.

Kenn Solomon was the first person to don the Rocky suit when the mountain lion was born in the Rockies in 1990. Solomon wore the suit to critical acclaim, as fans from around the globe came to love Rocky for his energy, athleticism and antics. In recognition of his lifelong service to the mascot profession, the Mascot Hall of Fame inducted Solomon into that ring of honor in 2008.

But in recent years, Solomon quietly retired and handed off Rocky's paws to a successor: his real-life son, Drake. This type of development is a public-relations layup for any organization. The man inside the suit of a universally appreciated mascot handed over the reins to his son, who had worked as a trampoline dunk halftime performer for the Nuggets. It's the type of story that would go viral in the best way imaginable for the Nuggets.

But this organization chooses to act like a major-league sports Grinch when it comes to Rocky, depriving fans of all the fun that could be had.

"It is our approach not to discuss the person in the suit for Rocky, Bernie, Woolly or Rapid Man," Declan Bolger, a KSE spokesperson, has previously told Westword, also listing off the mascots for the KSE-owned Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth and Colorado Rapids. Bolger did not return a request for comment this time around, either.

Season-ticket holders and those who attend a bunch of Nuggets games have noticed that Rocky has seemed a little different. The most notable change is that he struggles now with hitting the mascot's patented backwards half-court shot.

Until recently, Kenn Solomon, sporting a purple-dyed soul patch, could actually be spotted on the court right next to Rocky while the mascot was attempting to hit the backwards half-court shot. A father was coaching his son, as though they were in the driveway shooting hoops or hitting batting practice together in a classic father-son bonding activity. Kenn Solomon declined to comment, as did his other son, Cade, who works as Rocky's guide during games. Drake Solomon did not return a request for comment. A third son, Garett, has been working as Hooper, the mascot for the Detroit Pistons.

But there's an incredible twist to all of this: During the February 2 game at Ball Arena between the Golden State Warriors and the Nuggets, Kenn Solomon could not be spotted on the floor when Rocky was taking his backwards half-court shot. But neither was he actually out of the picture.

A source, whose name Westword has agreed to withhold owing to what is obviously some classified-documents-level sensitivity surrounding the identity of Rocky, says that Kenn is once again donning the suit of Rocky. This development is quite recent and has nothing to do with the performance of Drake as Rocky. Instead, Drake is on the mascot injured reserve. While he gets his medical issues sorted out, Dad is donning the suit. What a luxury to have a mascot father.

And that might just give Kenn — the OG Rocky — the sendoff that he had always hoped for: serving as Rocky in the finals as the Nuggets lock up the team's first-ever NBA championship.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE. Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.

Conor McCormick-Cavanagh is a former staff writer at Westword, where he covered a range of beats, including local politics, immigration and homelessness. He previously worked as a journalist in Tunisia and loves to talk New York sports; he now lives in upstate New York.

OG Rocky Will Appear in His First NBA Finals With the Nuggets

Kenn Solomon has been winning fans since 1990, and he's come out of retirement for the basketball championship.

As the Denver Nuggets prepare to take on the Miami Heat for the start of the NBA finals on Thursday, June 1, one man who has been with the squad for over three decades will finally get his first shot at a championship. But he'll never show his face.

Kenn Solomon, the talented acrobat who first filled the suit of Rocky, the Nuggets' mountain lion mascot, in 1990, will be back in uniform — launching his patented backward half-court shots at an NBA championship game for the first time in his storied career. He may even troll opposing players, such as Jimmy Butler, making them the target of his hilarious antics during the series.

Solomon served as the Nuggets' mascot for over thirty years, shooting to a spot in the Mascot Hall of Fame with his humorous skits, relentless energy and dangerous moves. He passed out while being lowered to the court one time, for example, and also got knocked down by a playful punch from Charles Barkley in another instance.

But the fan favorite quietly hung up his paws two years ago, passing the mountain lion suit to his son, Drake Solomon.

During games this season, Kenn Solomon could be seen sporting a purple-dyed soul patch as he coached Drake during Rocky's half-court shots. A second Solomon son, Cade, serves as Rocky's minder during games, while a third, Garett, works as Hooper, the mascot for the Detroit Pistons.

While mascot work runs in the family, fans started to notice that Rocky seemed a little different once the switch was made from Kenn Solomon to Drake. Rocky, previously a lights-out shooter from backward half-court range, couldn't buy a bucket. And the mascot didn't have quite the same pep in his step.

But then a medical issue landed Drake on the mascot injured reserve list this year. The Nuggets didn't have to look far for a replacement: Dad was ready to suit back up. and enjoy the first championship games of his long career.

So far, the Denver Nuggets organization and its parent company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, have kept quiet about who's inside the Rocky suit. While a beloved, longtime NBA mascot passing his suit to his son seems a layup of a public relations story, KSE has shown zero interest in courting press regarding that subject.

Kenn Solomon has also declined to talk about it.

But then, he's busy these days. On May 31, in full Rocky regalia, he joined Mayor Michael Hancock in front of the Denver City and County Building for a ceremonial street renaming honoring the Nuggets. And tomorrow he'll be back in Ball Arena.

The trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. make the Nuggets the clear favorite in the first game against Jimmy Butler's Miami Heat. The altitude and home-court advantage will help, too. But Rocky's energy gives the Denver team an added edge.

When asked about the team's X factor during a May 30 appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Nuggets coach Michael Malone responded, "No doubt, Rocky."

As Rocky, Kenn Solomon certainly was the team's X factor during three decades of poor play and heartbreak. Even when the Nuggets sucked and the actual team wasn't the draw, Rocky kept fans coming out.

And now, after all those years of hard work, he finally gets his shot at a championship ring. Do they come in mountain lion size?

Kenn Solomon will deserve some kind of reward, since he won't be cashing a $625,000 check at the end of the season; sources with knowledge of his actual salary say that the widely reported claim is 100 percent bogus.

Still, real Nuggets fans know that when Kenn Solomon is in the Rocky suit, he's worth his weight in gold.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE. Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.

Conor McCormick-Cavanagh is a former staff writer at Westword, where he covered a range of beats, including local politics, immigration and homelessness. He previously worked as a journalist in Tunisia and loves to talk New York sports; he now lives in upstate New York.

Whether it's a touchdown, a home run, or a three-pointer, Rocky is there to celebrate with the fans and athletes. Aside from his entertaining performances, Rocky also serves as a symbol of team spirit and unity. He embodies the values of hard work, determination, and perseverance, inspiring both players and supporters alike.

His presence at games and events helps to create a sense of camaraderie and a strong bond between the team and their fans. Rocky's popularity extends beyond the stadium or arena. He is often seen in commercials, promotional videos, and community events. His charismatic personality and infectious energy make him a sought-after figure for endorsements and appearances. Fans young and old eagerly line up to meet Rocky and get their picture taken with him, as he has become a beloved icon in the sports world. In conclusion, Rocky the mascot is more than just a costumed character at sporting events. He is a symbol of fan excitement, team spirit, and sportsmanship. With his high energy and entertaining performances, Rocky brings joy and excitement to every game he attends. He is an indispensable part of the sports experience and a beloved figure in the hearts of fans and athletes alike..

Reviews for "From [School/Organization/Team Name] to the World: Rocky the Mascot Goes Global"

1. Jessica - 2 stars: Rocky the mascot was a complete disappointment. First of all, his appearance was just absurd - a giant, overweight, green monster with weird-looking eyes. It was hard to take him seriously as a mascot for our sports team. Secondly, his antics were more annoying than entertaining. He kept running around and trying to interact with the audience, but it just felt forced and awkward. Overall, I think the team should consider finding a new, more appealing mascot.

2. Mike - 1 star: I found Rocky the mascot to be absolutely unbearable. Not only did he look ridiculous, but his behavior was obnoxious. He would constantly interrupt the game, distracting both the players and the audience. It was impossible to focus on the match with him around. I believe mascots are supposed to add excitement and fun, but Rocky was just a nuisance. I genuinely hope they retire this mascot and bring in someone more likable and entertaining.

3. Sarah - 2 stars: Rocky the mascot failed to impress me. His overzealous energy was exhausting to watch. He was constantly bouncing around, waving his arms, and making strange noises. It was quite unsettling and distracting. Additionally, his costume looked cheap and poorly made. A mascot should be memorable and approachable, but Rocky missed the mark completely. I wouldn't recommend attending any events with this mascot present.

The Legacy of Rocky the Mascot: How One Character Shaped an Era