Spencer Jones, who was once a two-way player for the Denver Nuggets, revealed that it was humbling to hear the salary of the team's mascot while he was still a rookie.
The 25-year-old was undrafted and played for the Portland Trail Blazers' G League team before the Denver Nuggets signed him to a two-way contract. However, his brilliant performances helped him earn a standard NBA contract in February 2026.
He was on the verge of leaving the Nuggets, as the Oklahoma City Thunder signed him to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet but the Denver Nuggets matched the offer sheet, which meant that he would return to the Mile High City.
His journey in the league has been inspiring for many young players, but Jones revealed how the salary of Rocky, the Nuggets' mascot, humbled him.
According to Sports Business Journal, Rocky the Mountain Lion makes $625,000. However, this is from a report in 2022 and the team has never made any comment on this. The salary is exponentially higher than other mascots, but the entertainment quotient with the backward half-court shots definitely makes Rocky one of the best in the league.
Jones, who was on a two-way deal before he got his standard NBA contract, stated that he was paid $600,000. Even after taxes, Jones revealed that the mascot could have been making more money than the NBA player.
"Nothing humbles you faster than realizing your team's mascot makes more than your rookie contract. Rocky makes ~$600k a year doing backward half-court shots. I was on a two-way deal bringing home the exact same base salary. After taxes and fees, I'm pretty sure the mountain lion had me beat," Jones wrote on his X account.
There are reports that suggest the salary reported for the mascot was for an old performer.
Having signed a new deal, Jones is now definitely making more money than the mascot, if the salary reported was even correct. He is an important part of the Nuggets roster, and without him, the team has struggled to start the season, losing two of their first three games.
Read more:
