The Secret Fortune of NBA Mascots: Rocky Takes Home $625,000 Annually!

Being an NBA mascot can be a lucrative gig, as revealed by a report from the Sports Business Journal.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ca2a970-1637-4b78-ae40-06328bfddd8d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7538a095-ee19-4f6f-851b-f9a4492a86ee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -117.64289%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a64cf42-60d1-4e61-9c32-d43ae72eabce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0cb0ee24-a040-44b4-a7f1-639855af591d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.31206%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The highest-earning NBA mascot is Rocky, the mountain lion mascot of the Nuggets, who makes an impressive $625,000 per year.

[{"selector":"#anim-cdecd6de-f641-46cb-8eb1-abd318fced89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45cc699b-f158-477e-951d-b54aef6fe271","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -117.64289%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c03a271b-f650-4e79-9e5a-ca5720caf241","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75fbad1f-c68d-4357-a984-c9ac9ef1905e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.31206%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Following closely is Harry the Hawk, the mascot of the Hawks, who earns a handsome $600,000 annually.

[{"selector":"#anim-fd321b05-1b6e-4ee7-b3ca-e52a1eccc1eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc3ad6bf-47d2-4db6-8c43-594f3fe251f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -117.64289%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b084ddf9-d196-4064-9441-e317f5a74fb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a806514-d1c4-472e-8786-5b71ba50f395","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.31206%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Chicago Bulls' mascot, Benny the Bull, is the third highest earner, with $400,000 in income each year.

[{"selector":"#anim-6e92b786-d35f-4f2e-9e95-17a4ed860ae4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4af6c086-20b0-443b-b0a4-05bfb7c8559b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -117.64289%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47d8082d-b51a-4aa1-8146-b87af35cc62b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a4c99b6-e424-4bd5-ad7a-d953e6816673","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.31206%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Nuggets' mascot, Rocky, faces a tough challenge ahead as the team competes in its first-ever NBA Finals against the Heat.

[{"selector":"#anim-2a657736-6c27-4682-8645-64eedb38bfb1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b244dc13-f3b9-4888-8843-10938670fc35","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -116.36494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b012b53-24bf-4954-8050-8584b332d4f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3270bf29-dc6a-4d5b-945e-644c5ccdbcda","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.98561%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The NBA mascot industry boasts significant salaries, although they are considerably lower than those of the players.

[{"selector":"#anim-da32812f-1d0f-4188-9ab1-fae240d66508","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02b84f3e-b246-4de1-99f4-0085d9905371","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -116.36494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a4bd464-d440-4575-8034-876e0f6b491f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5360081c-0aa6-4535-ad53-d2b15ac6e663","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.98561%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Fourth place is taken by Go the Gorilla, the mascot for the Suns, who earns $200,000 per year.

[{"selector":"#anim-b127c232-3f2d-4415-a8c3-d1323ea66b69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3b24b6c-1e39-4990-af98-8e070295e6cf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -116.36494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d19bc33-6724-43c8-b592-e04bf605f074","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92338e1f-672d-41fa-b4b9-8cbfed4d9063","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.98561%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Hugo the Hornet, the mascot of the Hornets, ranks fifth on the list with an annual salary of $100,000.

[{"selector":"#anim-7571800d-cde2-4a0f-a8ea-b9de4c102cba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fbb4471-bf95-4878-95aa-6c1f7a6e4aa6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -116.36494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6cd9e7a5-9d22-4edb-bccb-09352b092ea6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d12a3a3-664b-4e2c-9754-e587b15b61f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.98561%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The Nuggets' mascot, Rocky, can be rented for various events at an hourly rate of $750, with a reduced rate of $500 for corporate partners.

[{"selector":"#anim-b05dcede-d9bd-43ea-971c-1de29089e868","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be7e72a2-c880-47b0-806e-ecc18f193289","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -116.36494%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a242c3dd-af06-4b69-8240-c54bd965938a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6071ed57-3ce5-430f-a045-11d7f3ca3dff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.98561%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] All Image: Google.com