NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
A man who worked like the Denver Nuggets mascot, Rocky The Mountain Lion, for several seasons continues Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the NBA franchise ownership group.
Drake Solomon accuses his former employer of discrimination in disability and an illegal starting offer.
The unjustified dismissal trial claims that Solomon was rejected after undergoing a double hip replacement procedure.
CLICK HERE for more sports cover on Foxnews.com
Denver Nuggets Mascot Rocky celebrates a victory on the clippers of the Clippers of the match 7 of the first round of the NBA 2025 qualifiers in Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, May 3, 2025. (Ron Chenoy / Imagn images)
Solomon suggested that he was taking a stand to help protect other employees. Solomon maintains the offer he received, and other employees were extended after the adoption in 2023 of the Powr law of Colorado (protection of opportunities and rights of workers).
The NBA publishes the Christmas day calendar and opening evening matches
Solomon recalled that its starting offer was $ 20,000. He was also invited to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which, according to his lawyers, violated the provisions of the Powr law.
Solomon rejected the agreement.
“It seemed to me to be basic,” he said. “I was not going to sign this.”
Rocky the Mountain Lion of Denver Nuggets in a match against the Boston Celtics on March 7, 2024, in The Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Bart Young / NBAE via Getty Images)
The Nuggets won the very first title of the NBA of the franchise in 2023, the same year Salomon said that he began to encounter health problems. A bone condition has inhibited Solomon’s ability to perform tasks associated with the mascot of a professional sports team.
Rocky the Mountain Lion of the Denver Nuggets jumps the crowd before a match against the Golden State Warriors on December 3, 2024, in Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Garrett Ellwood / NBAE via Getty Images)
Solomon said he had informed his supervisors of his state. The Nuggets would have started to seek his replacement after learning that he will possibly have to undergo surgery. Solomon argued that the alleged acts were indeed a voting of non-confidence in his overall health.
“He got to a point where I was on the ground pulling on a half-terrain shot with tears running on my face,” Solomon told CBS Colorado. “It is difficult to think about these moments. I really wanted to bring the same energy.”
Solomon said that a path to resume his duties had been hampered after being operated on, which, according to him, left him as if he had been deceived.
“For this way, it looks like a betrayal,” said Solomon. “We were so faithful to them.”
Solomon’s father played as a mascot of Nuggets for more than three decades before him.
“I was on the ground at 2 weeks,” said Salomon.
PK Press Club Digital contacted Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to comment but did not immediately receive an answer.
