Former Denver Nuggets Mascot Sues Ownership Group for Alleged Disability Discrimination

A former Denver Nuggets mascot is speaking out after filing a lawsuit against the team’s ownership group, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), alleging disability discrimination and an unlawful severance offer.

Drake Solomon, who portrayed the Nuggets’ mascot Rocky from 2021 until this past season, claims he was wrongfully terminated after undergoing double hip replacement surgery. His father had performed as Rocky for more than 30 years before Solomon took over the role.

Solomon says the lawsuit is not only for himself, but also on behalf of other KSE employees who, since the 2023 passage of Colorado’s POWR Act (Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights), have allegedly been offered similar unlawful agreements.

“I was on the court at 2-weeks-old,” Solomon told CBS Colorado.

During the NBA team’s 2023 championship run, Solomon says he was diagnosed with a painful bone condition that impacted his ability to perform. After notifying supervisors that he would need surgery, Solomon alleges the organization began tryouts for his replacement, citing a lack of confidence in his health.

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