Top 5 most popular NBA mascots who own the spotlight

The arenas lit up when NBA players go in for deep-range threes or poster dunks, but sometimes the best athlete on the floor is a furry creature jumping off a trampoline. NBA mascots aren't just sideline fillers, they are high-earning, social media-savvy icons. From six-figure salaries that rival corporate CEOs to viral TikTok stunts, these hype-men have turned into the heart and soul of the arena.

Whether it's Rocky being lowered from the rafters or The Coyote performing trampoline dunks through flaming hoops, NBA mascots have evolved, and so have the risks. These performers aren't just dancing, they're risking it all with dangerous stunts, acrobatic dunks, and death-defying entries from the rafters that keep fans on the edge of their seats. While every team has a representative, five specific mascots have transcended the game to become global brands:

#1 Benny the Bull (Chicago Bulls)

Widely considered the GOAT of mascots, Benny is a branding genius with over 582K followers on Instagram alone. He’s famous for his popcorn showers and elite breakdancing moves. Benny earns a cool $400,000 annually, making him one of the most successful entertainers in Chicago history.

#2 Rocky the Mountain Lion (Denver Nuggets)

Nugget’s mascot, Rocky, remains the highest paid mascot in NBA in 2025 with a staggering $625,000 annually as per The Grueling Truth. This massive amount comes with Rocky’s dangerous high-flying stunts, trick shots, court presence and long standing loyalty tot he franchise since 1990.

#3 The Coyote (San Antonio Spurs)

Known for his slapstick comedy and yellow manga eyes, the Coyote is a Mascot Hall of Famer. He’s a workhorse, making over 400 community appearances a year, more than any other mascot in the league, and earns a deserved $200,000 salary. The Cayote earned the 2020 NBA Mascot of the year honor.

#4 Harry the Hawk (Atlanta Hawks)

Harry is the second-highest earner in the league, bringing in $600,000 per year. He’s a high-energy specialist known for his incredible dance routines and was recently named the NBA Mascot of the Year in 2023.

#5 Stuff the Magic Dragon (Orlando Magic)

The back to back NBA mascot of the year (2016, 2017), Stuff is a master of the hoverboard and became a household name globally during the 2016 Dunk Contest when he assisted Aaron Gordon in what many call the greatest dunk of all time.

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