Job Listing Reveals Potential Earnings for Nuggets Mascot Rocky
A recent job listing hints at the earnings of the Denver Nuggets’ mascot, Rocky, emphasizing the need for basketball skills.
Since Kenn Solomon stepped down as the Nuggets’ mascot Rocky, the performance has noticeably changed. Solomon, famous for his dynamic stunts and signature moves, even once fainted while being lowered from the ceiling. After his departure, fans noted a shift in Rocky’s behavior, suspecting a new performer was behind the suit.
Solomon was the only person to portray Rocky from the mascot’s inception in 1990 until around 2021, though the exact date is unconfirmed as Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), which owns the Nuggets, never disclosed details about the person in the costume. Rocky was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2006.
Following Solomon’s retirement, his son Drake took over the role. Sources told Westword that during the last Nuggets season, different individuals occasionally filled in for Drake. Another of Solomon’s sons reportedly worked as the Detroit Pistons’ mascot, making mascotting a family tradition. However, KSE seems to be seeking new talent for Rocky, as indicated by a recent job posting for a mascot performer.
While the listing doesn’t explicitly state it’s for Rocky, the required basketball knowledge and skills, and its categorization under the Denver Nuggets business unit, make it clear. One crucial skill for Rocky is the behind-the-back, half-court shot, a move Kenn mastered but successors struggled with.
The job description emphasizes that the performer will be a “world-class performer and ambassador” at home games and public events, responsible for maintaining the costume and props, and pitching new ideas.
The salary range for the position is $70,000 to $130,000 annually, debunking the myth that Rocky earns $625,000 per year. Though the mascot’s salary is substantial, it’s not as extravagant as rumored.
Other qualifications include physical performance skills such as tumbling, dancing, stilt-walking, and T-shirt tossing, along with creativity and good moral character. Applicants must be between 5’5″ and 5’9″, excluding shorter individuals and NBA players.
In-person auditions are expected in August, with a start date of September 1. This would give the new performer a month to acclimate before the NBA preseason begins in early October and to master Rocky’s iconic shot.
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