Professional sports competitions generate large sums of money, and it is not a secret at all. NBA is one of those leagues where players and head couches have exceptionally high salaries – and NBA mascots are no different! On this post we talk NBA mascot salaries:
Average NBA Mascot Salary:
NBA mascots, for example, are one of those workers permanently employed there. Their salaries might vary too. Those new and inexperienced individuals earn $22,000 or slightly above that amount, while the experienced mascots make $100,000 or sometimes even more. For instance, the NBA Denver Nuggets mascot is known to make the highest amounts and his salaries go up to $625,000. Clearly, those amounts are not overly big, but they are quite better than some salaries of other professions.
An average US salary stands at $45,000. The amount is almost double than the lowest mascot salary in NBA. However, the highest earning are significantly higher, so an experienced mascot in NBA takes more benefits than a majority of workers from other professions in the United States. Those mascots with such high salaries are usually working more than 10 years on the same job position and are very skillful.
The strong experience obviously stimulates their salaries, and they get 5 times higher wage than beginners. It means working in NBA definitely pays off even for a mascot. The beginners have to invest time and build up their skills and knowledge. Their wage will progressively grow until they reach the maximum.
NBA Mascot Courses and Training
The National Basketball Association even held different courses and studies to support the skills of the league’s mascots. Also, the best mascots have an opportunity to get an award at the end of the year, thanks to their dedicated work. The most awarded mascots have the highest ratings, and it significantly affects their salaries. Each team is looking for awesome members because skillful individuals make an impact on all other aspects.
Here is a list of NBA Mascots in 2023:
Here is a list of NBA mascots:
- Bango (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Benny the Bull (Chicago Bulls)
- Blaze the Trail Cat (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Boomer (Indiana Pacers)
- Burnie (Miami Heat)
- Chuck (Charlotte Hornets)
- Clutch the Bear (Houston Rockets)
- Coyote (San Antonio Spurs)
- Crunch (Toronto Raptors)
- D-League Dunk (NBA D-League)
- G-Wiz (Washington Wizards)
- Grizz (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Hooper (Detroit Pistons)
- Jammer (Denver Nuggets)
- Leo the Lion (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Louie (St. Louis Blues)
- Luna (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- The Gorilla (Phoenix Suns)
- The Raptor (Toronto Raptors)
- The Saint (New Orleans Pelicans)
- The Wolf (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Thunder (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Who’s the highest-paid NBA mascot?
It’s Rocky the Mountain Lion from the Denver Nuggets, making mad cash, like $625k a year. Word on the street is a one-hour hang with Rocky costs 750 bucks and a 30-minute b-day party visit is 400 bucks. Season ticket holders can meet Rocky during games for 135 bucks, but non-pass holders gotta fork over the same amount for some time with the Denver dude.
So who’s next on the list of top five highest-paid NBA mascots?
- Harry the Hawk from the Atlanta Hawks comes in at a close second, stackin’ 600k a year.
- Benny the Bull from the Chicago Bulls takes the third spot, earnin’ 400k.
- Go the Gorilla from the Phoenix Suns is fourth, makin’ just a third of what Harry the Hawk is stackin’.
- And in fifth, we got Hugo the Hornet from the Charlotte Hornets, bringing in 100k.
- Just to give you some perspective, the minimum salary of an NBA player is less than double what the highest-paid mascot is makin’ (1,017,781 bucks).
And in case you were wondering, we never see a mascot’s real face ’cause of the mascot code of conduct. HBO Real Sports’ Bernard Goldberg spilled the tea after visiting the 2010 Milwaukee Mascot Camp. “Some mascots ain’t allowed to show their face or talk, it’s against the code.”
How can someone become an NBA mascot and start earning NBA mascot salary?
Becoming an NBA mascot is a competitive process that requires a combination of talent, athleticism, and showmanship. Here are some steps you can follow to become an NBA mascot:
- Develop your skills: Mascots need to be able to entertain crowds with their movements, gestures, and comedic timing. Consider taking dance, gymnastics, or improv classes to improve your physical and performance skills.
- Build a portfolio: Create a portfolio that showcases your talent and skills as a performer. This could include videos of you performing as a mascot, photos of your costume designs, or testimonials from people you have entertained in the past.
- Network: Attend mascot camps, workshops, and events to meet other mascots and industry professionals. This is a great way to learn about job opportunities and make connections in the field.
- Apply for mascot jobs: Look for job postings for mascots in professional sports leagues, such as the NBA, or with theme parks, zoos, or other organizations that use mascots. Make sure to submit a strong resume and cover letter, and include your portfolio.
- Audition: When you apply for a mascot job, you may be asked to audition. This could involve performing a series of routines, showcasing your physical abilities, or demonstrating your comedic timing. Be prepared to perform your best and show why you are the right fit for the job.
- Be prepared to work hard: Being an NBA mascot is a physically demanding job that requires a lot of energy and endurance. You may need to perform for several hours at a time, in hot and heavy costumes, so be prepared to put in the work.
Remember, becoming an NBA mascot is a competitive process, so be persistent and keep working on your skills. With hard work and dedication, you can achieve your goal of entertaining fans as an NBA mascot.
