Former Nuggets mascot files lawsuit against team for unjust firing and discrimination post hip surgery operation
Former Denver Nuggets Mascot Files Discrimination Lawsuit Against KSE
Former Denver Nuggets mascot Drake Solomon has filed a lawsuit against Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), the team's ownership group, alleging disability discrimination and unfair employment practices. The lawsuit, filed in Denver District Court in August 2025, claims Solomon was wrongfully terminated after undergoing double hip replacement surgery due to avascular necrosis, a condition that caused bone tissue death and limited his ability to perform as Rocky, the Nuggets' mascot [1][2][3][4].
Solomon, who succeeded his father, Kenn Solomon, as Rocky in 2021, sustained serious hip injuries during the 2022-23 season and underwent surgery. After returning to work, Solomon alleges he faced a hostile work environment and was subjected to tryouts for his position, which the lawsuit says were held because of his disability and the owners' lack of confidence in his health [2][4].
The lawsuit further alleges that the Nuggets held mascot tryouts because of Solomon's health issues and lack of confidence in his health. Solomon was fired in August 2024 without cause, with the team citing his failure to score first in the tryouts, according to the lawsuit [2][3].
The suit argues Kroenke Sports & Entertainment violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by terminating Solomon due to his disability. Solomon also challenges the legality of the severance package he was offered, claiming it was the same unlawful offer given to other employees, potentially paving the way for a class-action lawsuit [2][4].
Solomon has expressed that the lawsuit is about seeking justice and not a personal attack on the Nuggets, a team he and his family deeply love, as his father was the original Rocky mascot for over 30 years [1][3][4]. The lawsuit was initially reported by USA Today.
Before becoming the mascot, Solomon joined the Nuggets in 2012 as a trampoline dunk artist and member of the team's Promo Squad. Solomon's father was with the team for Rocky's debut season in 1990-91. After his surgery, Solomon required a hip replacement. The lawsuit also accuses supervisors of aiding and abetting unfair employment practices.
The Nuggets, in response, have not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit. The lawsuit paves the way for a potential class-action lawsuit to arise.
- "Despite the hostile work environment and tryouts for his position, Solomon still maintains a deep love for the Denver Nuggets, a team he and his father, the original Rocky mascot, have been associated with for decades."
- "In the 2022-23 season, Solomon, the Nuggets' mascot, sustained serious hip injuries and underwent surgery, which later led to his disability and termination."
- "Solomon's lawsuit against Kroenke Sports & Entertainment alleges violations of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, citing improper termination due to his disability."
- "Before his tenure as the mascot, Solomon was a trampoline dunk artist and member of the Nuggets' Promo Squad, a role he took before his father's debut as the original Rocky in 1990-91."
- "The NBA season can be exciting for sports fans, but the ongoing lawsuit against the Denver Nuggets by their former mascot, Drake Solomon, is pushing the envelope in sports-analysis discussions, emphasizing the importance of a fair and supportive environment in the sports industry."
