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A man who worked as the Denver Nuggets pet, Rocky The Mountain Lion, for several seasons is demanding Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the Group owned by the NBA franchise.
Drake Solomon accuses his former discrimination employer for disability and an illegal compensation offer.
The demand for unfair termination states that Solomon was dismissed after he underwent a double hip replacement procedure.
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The Denver Nuggets Rocky pet celebrates a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers after game 7 of the first Round of the NBA playoffs of 2025 in Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on May 3, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn images)
Salomon suggested that he is taking a position to help protect other employees. Salomon argues that the offer he received was illegal, and other employees extended after the Powr Law of the Law of Colorado of 2023 (protect the opportunities and rights of workers).
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Solomon recalled that his compensation offer was $ 20,000. He was also asked to sign a non -dissemination agreement, which his lawyers argued violated the provisions of the Powr law.
Solomon rejected the agreement.
“It seemed incomplete,” he explained. “I wasn’t going to sign that.”
Rocky The Mountain Lion of the Denver Nuggets during a game against the Boston Celtics on March 7, 2024, at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Bart Young/NBAE through Getty Images)
The Nuggets won the first NBA title of the franchise in 2023, the same year that Solomon says that he began to experience health problems. A bone condition inhibited Solomon’s ability to perform tasks associated with being the pet for a professional sports team.
Rocky The Denver Nuggets mountain lion promotes the crowd before a match against the Golden State Warriors on December 3, 2024 in Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE through Getty Images)
Solomon said he notified his supervisors of his condition. Nuggets supposedly began to look for their replacement after learning that it would eventually need to undergo surgery. Salomon argued that the alleged acts were effectively a vote of no confidence in his general health.
“He reached a point where he was on the court firing a shot of half court with tears dripping on my face,” Salomon told CBS Colorado. “It’s hard to think about those times. I really wanted to bring the same energy.”
Solomon said that a path to resume his duties was prevented after he underwent surgery, which said he left him feeling as if he had been deceived.
“To end this way, it feels like a betrayal,” said Solomon. “We were so loyal to them.”
Solomon’s father acted as the Nuggets pet for more than three decades before him.
“I was in court at 2 weeks old,” said Solomon.
Pak Gazette Digital contacted Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to comment, but did not immediately receive an answer.
