Man Who Once Was Rocky Sues Nuggets Ownership For Firing Him

Denver Nuggets mascot Rocky is known for his high-flying acrobatics on the court during games at Ball Arena.

Now, he — or at least the man who used to wear the suit — is hitting another court, this one of law. He’s suing Nuggets owner Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.

Drake Solomon filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court Wednesday afternoon alleging that he was wrongfully terminated after undergoing total hip replacement surgery during the 2023-2024 season. Solomon alleges the team held tryouts for a new performer to wear the famous mountain lion suit for the following season despite doctors giving him a clean bill of health.

Solomon claims he was terminated after tryouts and was presented a severance agreement that violates state law. The lawsuit said that it violated nearly every provision of the Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights Act.

Solomon said in the court filing that he filed the lawsuit on behalf of himself and other KSE employees who have been presented with similar severance agreements since the passage of POWR Act.

Family of mascots

Solomon is the son of the original Rocky, Kenn Solomon, who served as the “super mascot” for decades.

Kenn’s father had been a yell leader for Brigham Young University. Meanwhile, Kenn had been the mascot for Utah State University, Big Blue. While in Denver for a summer internship at the Rocky Mountain News, he cold called the Denver Nuggets expressing interest in becoming their mascot. When the team decided to employ a mascot, Kenn Solomon got the job in 1990.

Rocky’s incredible stunts and high-flying act during Nuggets home games has made him one of the most beloved mascots in all of sports. He was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2008.

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