In a surprising turn of events, the Denver Nuggets are now confronting a lawsuit from their former mascot. Drake Solomon, who portrayed Rocky the Mountain Lion, claims that the Nuggets dismissed him after he took leave to recuperate from a hip injury.
The 31-year-old Solomon is pursuing damages against Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Denver Nuggets. He lodged his lawsuit in the Denver District Court on Tuesday.
During the 2022-23 NBA season, Solomon discovered he had a condition known as avascular necrosis, which is characterized by a disruption in the blood supply to a bone. This led to several surgeries, and although he returned after one of them, he required a hip replacement surgery later on.
SuperMascot Rocky put on a performance throughout the playoffs 🥳
Here are some of our favorite moments 📹 pic.twitter.com/4QQuhdevWS
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 1, 2023
The Nuggets expressed doubts about his fitness, owing to his injury history, and began auditioning candidates for his role. Solomon asserts that upon his return to the team, he was confronted with a “hostile work environment.”
“I didn’t receive any kind of warm welcome back, not that I was expecting that. But my supervisors wouldn’t even acknowledge or speak to me while we shared an office,” Drake explained. “It wasn’t until it came time to discuss tryouts that they finally engaged with me. That was pretty difficult.”
The lawsuit alleges that the Nuggets infringed upon both the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights Act.
History of Denver Nuggets Mascot Rocky the Mountain Lion
Drake Solomon followed in the footsteps of his father, Kenn Solomon, becoming a second-generation mascot for the Nuggets. Kenn was the original Rocky, having originated the character in 1990 before retiring in 2021 after over three decades.
Drake took on the mantle of the Nuggets’ mascot following a closed-door tryout that led to his appointment.
“We adored Rocky our whole lives. We always considered the Nuggets a second family and Rocky a second dad. The abrupt end to that relationship feels like losing a family member. My dad was deeply upset upon hearing the news and encouraged me to explore options for rectifying the situation,” Drake shared with The Sun.
Solomon claims he was let go last August and is seeking financial compensation through the lawsuit. The Denver Nuggets have yet to comment on the situation.
Image Source: Drake Solomon @ Instagram
