After 30 years of family legacy, he thought he was untouchable: the Nuggets fired him without mercy

Drake Solomon, the man behind the famous Rocky mascot of the Denver Nuggets, has filed a lawsuit against Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the franchise’s ownership group. The former 31-year-old performer alleges disability discrimination and wrongful termination after undergoing double hip surgery.

Solomon had succeeded his father Kenn in 2021, who had portrayed Rocky for over 30 years since his debut on December 15, 1990. The young man had worked for the organization since 2012 as a trampoline artist and member of the « Promo Squad », also serving as his father’s backup.

A legal battle following health issues

Problems began in 2022-2023 when Solomon experienced hip pain. Diagnosed with avascular necrosis, he underwent his first surgery in March 2023.

In February 2024, he informed his superiors that he would need a total hip replacement. Shortly after, the organization allegedly announced open auditions for his position, regardless of the operation’s outcome.

« I was told that I had burned them the last time and they couldn’t count on me or expect me to come back the same way or at 100%, » Solomon stated during an interview at his lawyers’ office.

Operated on April 2, 2024, he returned to work on May 20, claiming to be in full form. Despite this, he was terminated on August 13, 2024, shortly after participating in auditions, where he had even helped other candidates.

A class action in preparation

Beyond discrimination claims, the lawsuit also aims to establish a class action regarding the severance agreement offered to Solomon. His lawyers claim that KSE violated several provisions of the Colorado’s Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act by offering a $20,000 severance agreement with a non-disclosure clause.

Drake Solomon, a performer who previously served as the Nuggets’ ‘Rocky’ mascot, is suing team owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, alleging « unlawful disability-based discrimination and termination. »

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« It’s really clear. There’s no gray area. Every time a company provides a severance agreement, the law is really clear and specific, » explained Siddhartha Rathod, one of the lawyers representing Solomon.

Despite this legal battle, Solomon remains a Nuggets fan: « They are our second family, they are everything to us. This wasn’t an easy decision for me to pursue this at all. But what I’ve taken away from this is that it’s about what’s right and what’s wrong. »