The Average NBA Mascot Salary in the United States in 2022 is $60,000 Per Year. The maximum salary given to an NBA Mascot is $100,000 Per Year. While their minimum salary is $20,000 Per Year.
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NBA Mascot Salary 2022:
| EXPERIENCE | ANNUAL SALARY |
|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | $20,000 |
| More than 2 years | $63,000 |
| More than 5 years | $10,000 |
Learn More: NBA Player Salary
The national basketball league or NBA is one of the most widely watched professional leagues in America. With a total of 30 teams, 29 being from the U.S and one being from Canada, NBA players and the staff associated with it make a decent annual salary as well. In fact, NBA athletes have one of the highest annual salaries in the world. Either they are coaches, ball boys or even mascots they make a lot of money. However, in this article we will talk about how much do mascots get paid in NBA.
Who are the Top NBA Mascot Salaries in the US 2022?
| NBA Mascots | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets’ Rocky | $ 650,000 |
| Harry the Hawk | $ 50,000 |
| Charlotte Hornet’s Hugo | $ 100,000 |
| Cleveland Cavalier’s Moondog | $ 100,000 |
| Rumble the Bison | $ 90,000 |
Read More: NBA Referee Salary
What is the History of NBA Mascots?
Before jumping to the salary of an NBA mascot there is a quite interesting history behind the NBA mascots. Throughout the years we have seen mascots in different sports and they have become an essential part of the NBA as well. But where did the idea of dressing up and cheering up the crowd originated from?
The word “mascot” has a French origin that is derived from the word “Moscato”. It means “fairy or sorcerer” and was considered as a good luck charm in gambling. The Mascots became a part of the NBA in the early 1880s. At first, the bat boys were used as mascots to bring good luck to the teams, later teams started using real animals. Mr. Metin in 1964, was the first mascot to appear in costume. Since then, mascots have become a fundamental part of all kinds of sports. In Whiting, Indiana you’ll also find a mascot’s hall of fame.
How To Become an NBA Mascot?
There is no thumb rule in becoming a mascot, every team has different hiring procedures thus an NBA mascot salary varies from team to team. However, having the required set of skills can even get you a 6 figure salary. You should ask the audition advisor what they expect from a mascot applicant. It will help you practice more efficiently. The National Basketball Association also has different courses for the mascots to polish their skills. One of the perks of being a mascot is that the one who is the most dedicated gets an award at the end of the year. Mascots with the most awards have higher ratings which positively affects their salaries. Of course, every NBA team searches for the best individuals that will have a good impact during the games.
If you wish to become one, you must be in good shape and physically active as the job of a mascot requires running around, jumping through hoops, performing tricks. You should go well along with the crowd and keep them pumped up with your adrenaline rush. These are some qualities of the best NBA mascots. And, just like Coyote, if you wish to become the NBA mascot of the year these skills are necessary.
How Much Does an NBA Mascot Make In a Year?
The NBA mascot salary lies anywhere between $22,000 to $100,000. This field requires experience and command on the skills. So, the better you are, the better the figures. However, the average NBA mascot salary in America is $60,000 a year. The highest-paid mascot in the history of NBA is rocky the mascot who earned $650,000 a year which is 10 times the average salary of NBA mascot. Have a look below at a few of the top mascots and how much do professional mascots make in a year.
- Atlanta Hawks mascot Harry the Hawk makes more than 200 public appearances every year and charges $500 for an hour. This means he earns more than $50,000 a year from public appearances alone.
- Chicago Bull’s mascot salary lands second with a total of $200,000 annually. Benny the bull is one of the oldest mascots of the Chicago Bulls.
- Eddie Doucette used to call the bango mascot whenever a busks player connected on a long-range basket. But, the team officials went with the name of Bango the buck. The salary of the bango bucks mascot is also among the top 10 as it has remained the most entertaining and goofy throughout the NBA journey.
- San Antonio’s Coyote has been named the “mascot of the year” for 2020. The salary information for this star mascot might be around the average i.e $50,000 – $60,000 a year.
- Phoenix sun’s Gorilla salary is estimated to be around $200,000 a year. This mascot was played by Bob Woolf who has performed at approximately 1200 NBA games and also owns a gymnastic school.
Learn More: NBA Coach Salary
Are There Any NBA Teams Without Mascots?
Apart from the Los Angeles Lakers, there are three other teams in the NBA without a mascot, namely Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors, and the New York Knicks. A season before, the Los Angeles Clippers were also in the same group but they found Chuck the Condor, their new mascot.
Final Thoughts: How Much Do NBA Mascots Make Annually?
All in all, these professional mascots are a powerhouse of talent that they display in front of the audience. The mascots are equally important as the players because they are responsible for keeping the crowd engaged till the end. The physical activities they perform makes their salary worth it.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO NBA MASCOTS MAKE? (INSANE)
