Nuggets mascot fired after hip replacement

Rocky, the beloved mascot of the Denver Nuggets and the highest-paid mascot in the NBA, has sued the franchise’s owner, The Colorado Sun reports. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Denver District Court, it is stated that Drake Solomons — the man behind the Rocky costume — was fired after taking medical leave for a hip injury, which he claims violated disability protection laws. Solomons is seeking damages from Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the owner of the Nuggets. He took over the mascot role in 2021 from his father, who had been Rocky for more than three decades. During the 2022/23 season, Solomons was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, a condition that damages bone tissue due to insufficient blood supply. Although he underwent surgery, he returned to work after just 10 days, still experiencing pain. A year later, doctors advised him to have a hip replacement. When he informed his superiors, he was told that new auditions for the mascot would be organized due to concerns about his health.

After recovering, returning to work, and encountering what he described as a “hostile work environment,” he was fired following an audition in August 2024. His lawyer, Siddhartha Rathod, compared the dismissal to “firing a woman who returned from maternity leave.” In addition to entertaining fans at games, Solomons was active in charity work, toy drives, and youth basketball programs. He had been with the Nuggets organization since 2012, first as a member of the acrobatic dunk team and later as the only invited candidate to a closed audition for the role of Rocky.