The mascot of the Denver Nuggets is Rocky, an anthropomorphic mountain lion. Rocky has been the official mascot of the Nuggets since 1990 and is known for his high-energy performances and crowd interaction during home games. He can often be seen on the sidelines, engaging with fans and participating in various skits and stunts to entertain the crowd. Rocky's vibrant personality and playful antics have made him a beloved figure among Nuggets fans, and he has become a symbol of the team's spirit and enthusiasm. As the team's mascot, Rocky plays an integral role in creating a fun and engaging atmosphere for fans at Nuggets games..

Father-Son Duo: OG Rocky Helps Out New Rocky During Nuggets Games

At the beginning of the 2021-2022 NBA season, fans began to notice that Rocky, the beloved mountain lion mascot of the Denver Nuggets, seemed a little different. The mascot's patented backward half-court shot was falling much less often than it had in the past. And Rocky's energy just seemed to have changed.

It was no wonder: Kenn Solomon, the man inside the Rocky suit since 1990 — the year the mountain lion was born — and a 2008 Mascot Hall of Fame inductee, had retired, handing off Rocky's paws to his successor.

Solomon was a tough act to follow. As one of the most electric entertainers ever to grace an NBA game, Solomon certainly goes down as an obvious choice for the mascot Mount Rushmore. He's also one of the greatest backward half-court shooters ever — even when garbed in mountain lion gear.

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has always been skittish to talk about the people inside the suits of Rapid Man, Bernie, Wooly, Gunnersaurus and Rocky, and so they failed to reveal publicly — despite its being quite the lovely public relations layup of a story — that Solomon had handed off the large paws of Rocky to his real-life son, Drake Solomon. Drake had worked for the Nuggets as an entertainer who dunked from a trampoline during breaks in play. Westword broke the news of the Rocky switch in November 2021.

However, the story of Kenn Solomon didn't end there. With eight more lives remaining, he couldn't sit still.

Now, Kenn can be spotted in Ball Arena at Nuggets games, but not in the Rocky suit (which, by the way, is 5'10" with a tail length of three feet). The OG Rocky and the real-life father of the man currently gracing the Rocky suit is now serving as an omnipresent assistant to the mascot during Nuggets games.

Neither Kroenke Sports and Entertainment nor Kenn Solomon returned requests for comment on this story.

But on the night of January 9, when the Nuggets easily beat a Los Angeles Lakers team that was without both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the story was easy to see: The Solomon family patriarch greeted fans sitting in seats both courtside and also near the tunnel where Rocky comes out during intermissions. He wore a headset just like the one that his other son, Cade, wears as Rocky's chief handler during games. Meanwhile, Kenn's third son, Garrett, has been working as Hooper, the mascot for the Detroit Pistons.

It's definitely a family affair.

During the game between the Nuggets and the Lakers, Kenn took on a similar role to Cade's, helping Rocky navigate the floor and participate in various stunts. For example, both Kenn and Cade helped guide an inflatable tower with Rocky hidden inside to half-court. As soon as the tower inflated, Rocky burst out.

Sporting a purple-dyed soul patch, Kenn was also there right next to Rocky as he attempted to drain a backward half-court shot during the fourth quarter of the game. Like a coach teaching a player how to perfect a jump shot, Kenn was either providing verbal guidance to Rocky or, at the very least, serving as a calming presence. Sadly, though, Rocky didn't end up hitting the half-court shot that night.

But although the mascot is not as good — yet— at nailing the shot as Dad was, Rocky appears to be improving over the course of this season. And Nuggets fans surely want to see their mountain lion cub continue to improve, since it's going to be a long season. After all, the Nikola Jokic-led squad looks poised to make a run at an NBA championship.

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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.

How much money does Rocky, the mascot of the Denver Nuggets, make a year?

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The Nuggets are engulfed in a battle with the Los Angeles Lakers for the conference finals in the NBA.

Team mascots earn a decent living, but their salaries are significantly lower than those of the players. The job typically involves dancing, entertaining the audience with humor during games, and making appearances at team-related functions.

Boardroom TV, a media network co-founded by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman, reports that the average annual salary for a professional mascot is approximately $60,000.

But how much does Rocky from the Nuggets make a year?

Rocky the Mountain Lion, who represents the Denver Nuggets, earns an annual salary of $625,000, making him the highest-paid mascot. This figure exceeds the job’s median salary by a factor of ten.

Rocky the Mountain Lion earns more than 10 times the average pay for professional NBA mascots (around $60k).

As per the Sports Business Journal, Rocky’s hourly rental rates are $750, with a reduced rate of $500 for corporate partners. Having Rocky attend a birthday party costs $400 for a 30-minute visit or $750 for a one-hour visit.

The affordable means of coming across Rocky is through an in-game visit, priced at $135 for season pass holders and $150 for non-pass holders. The mentioned rates encompass expenses beyond the performer’s earnings.

About the author

Andy is a Miami native journalist and translator who is always on top of what sporting activity is taking place across the globe, and he aims to ensure all relevant information is shared with fans. Mainly focused on the US competitions of NBA, NFL and MLS, he also has a keen interest in international soccer, including Spain's LaLiga and the English Premier League among others.

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Reviews for "Building a Brand: How the Denver Nuggets Mascot Contributes to Team Identity"

1. Sarah - 1 star

I was extremely disappointed with the book "Who is Denver Nuggets Mascot." The writing was amateurish and lacked depth. The author seemed to just regurgitate basic information about the team mascot without providing any real insights or engaging storytelling. As a fan of the Denver Nuggets, I expected a more in-depth exploration of the mascot's history and significance. This book felt more like a rushed summary than a well-researched and captivating narrative.

2. John - 2 stars

I found "Who is Denver Nuggets Mascot" to be a rather dull read. The book lacked any kind of excitement or creativity. The writing style was dry, and the content was of minimal substance. It felt more like a textbook than an engaging piece of literature. Moreover, the book didn't offer any unique perspectives or information that couldn't be easily found with a quick internet search. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed with this book.

3. Lisa - 2 stars

While "Who is Denver Nuggets Mascot" promised to uncover the history and significance of the team's beloved mascot, it failed to deliver in many ways. The writing lacked cohesiveness and seemed disjointed at times. Additionally, the content felt repetitive, with the same information being reiterated multiple times throughout the book. It left me questioning the author's research and writing skills. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations, and I would not recommend it to fellow Denver Nuggets fans or anyone looking for an insightful read.

4. Michael - 1 star

I was highly disappointed by "Who is Denver Nuggets Mascot." The book lacked depth and failed to provide any meaningful information about the mascot or its significance to the team. The writing style was simplistic and lacked creativity, making it a struggle to stay engaged while reading. Additionally, the book lacked any unique insights or angles, offering only surface-level information that could be easily found elsewhere. Overall, this book was a missed opportunity and did not meet my expectations.

5. Emily - 2 stars

I was excited to learn more about the Denver Nuggets mascot through "Who is Denver Nuggets Mascot," but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. The writing style felt dry and lacked any engaging narrative or storytelling elements. The book was also quite short, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness and wanting more. There were missed opportunities to delve deeper into the history and impact of the mascot, making this book feel like a missed opportunity. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied with this read.

The Denver Nuggets Mascot: A Driving Force for Fan Engagement