NBA mascots are known for their high-flying acrobatics, comedic routines, and crowd-pleasing antics that entertain millions of fans. While they are often seen as playful figures, their paychecks are no laughing matter. In fact, some NBA mascots are making salaries that surpass those of teachers, a reality that has sparked conversation about the value placed on entertainment versus education in the U.S.
The Top-Paid NBA Mascot
The highest-paid NBA mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion of the Denver Nuggets, earns an impressive $625,000 annually. Known for his daring stunts and charisma on and off the court, Rocky’s salary is a testament to the value NBA teams place on their mascots as critical to fan engagement and game-day experience. Mascots like Rocky are expected to perform year-round, representing their teams at games, charity events, and public appearances.
Other mascots also command significant salaries. For example, Harry the Hawk of the Atlanta Hawks and Benny the Bull of the Chicago Bulls reportedly make $600,000 and $400,000 per year, respectively. These figures stand in stark contrast to the salaries of public school teachers, who are responsible for educating the next generation but often face financial challenges due to their modest pay.
Comparing Mascot Salaries to Teacher Salaries
While NBA mascots entertain thousands of fans at each game, teachers have the responsibility of shaping young minds and preparing them for the future. Despite the critical role teachers play, their salaries often pale in comparison to those of professional mascots.
According to the National Education Association (NEA), the average teacher salary in the U.S. for the 2021-2022 school year was approximately $66,397. This figure varies widely by state, with teachers in New York earning an average of $90,222, while educators in Mississippi earned an average of just $47,162. Even the highest-paid teachers in the country, however, don’t come close to the salaries of top NBA mascots.
NBA Mascots Earn More Than Many WNBA Players
In addition to out-earning teachers, top NBA mascots also make more than many WNBA players. The base salary for a WNBA player in 2023 was approximately $75,000, with star players like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson earning closer to the league’s supermax salary of $234,936. Even so, these figures fall well below the salaries of mascots like Rocky the Mountain Lion, who earns nearly three times more than the league’s top players.
The pay disparity has long been a source of frustration for WNBA players, who have advocated for higher salaries and improved working conditions for years even as the league, which is subsidized by the NBA, has lost money every season of its 27-year existence. Recently, the league has experienced a surge in popularity, with rising viewership, growing social media engagement, and star players like Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark gaining national attention.
This summer the WNBA secured a $2.2 billion media rights deal. On the heels of this development, this week the players union exercised its option to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement with the league. A new agreement could give the players higher salaries and increased benefits that reflect the league’s growth.