19 Former NBA Mascots That Are No Longer Active

Mascots often spark mixed reactions. While younger fans adore their playful energy and antics during NBA games, others find them awkward and prefer they keep their distance. Despite this, the NBA now features a lineup of highly skilled and entertaining mascots. However, reaching this level required retiring several mascots over the years. Here’s a look at 19 mascots that have been retired.

Brooklyknight // Brooklyn Nets

The BrooklyKnight, whose name might reference the term Brooklynite, made his first appearance in a 2012 game by dramatically descending from the ceiling, though the crowd’s reaction was underwhelming. Designed by Marvel Comics, the character—complete with a shiny mask, chiseled abs, a cape, and a chest emblem—was promoted as the NBA’s first-ever superhero. Marvel even launched a comic book about him to coincide with his debut. However, he is perhaps most remembered for an awkward moment when he got a basketball stuck above the rim during a dunk attempt. After just two seasons, the BrooklyKnight was retired, making it unlikely he’ll join the MCU in the near future.

Sly The Silver Fox // New Jersey Nets

Prior to their move to Brooklyn, the Nets were based in New Jersey, where Sly The Silver Fox served as their mascot. He made his debut in 1997 by rappelling down a 150-foot rope in the Continental Airlines Arena. As per his bio, Sly originated from the pine barrens of New Jersey, stood 6-foot-5, weighed 215 pounds, and his role was described as “center (of attention).” Sly gained notoriety for being accident-prone, such as when he injured his right patella while attempting to limbo in 2001. By the time the BrooklyKnight arrived in 2012, Sly had already been retired.

Rufus D. Lynx // Charlotte Bobcats

With the Charlotte Bobcats rebranding as the Hornets in 2014, Rufus D. Lynx, the fuzzy, orange mascot with sunglasses, saw his decade-long career come to an end. Named after the scientific name for bobcats, Lynx rufus, he achieved several milestones, including teaming up with four other mascots (including Sly!) in 2012 to set the Guinness World Record for “most between-the-legs basketball dunks by a team of mascots in one minute.” His retirement video depicted him planning adventures like skydiving, swimming with sharks, and even traveling to space.

Whammer // Cleveland Cavaliers

From the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, the Cleveland Cavaliers were represented by Whammer, a polar bear sporting wraparound sunglasses. His backstory claimed he was raised in the tundra. Whammer became famous for his halftime dunking performances and his playful antics, such as donning multiple colorful wigs during a game against the LA Lakers as a nod to Dennis Rodman (who wasn’t playing that night). Although Whammer has made occasional comebacks, the Cavaliers already have Moondog and Sir CC, making it unlikely he’ll return as a permanent fixture anytime soon.

Maxie the Miner // Denver Nuggets

Maxie the Miner, a bearded character whose job seems to be mining for basketballs, was introduced to the team’s logo in 1974 when the Rockets rebranded as the Nuggets, still an ABA team at the time. While Maxie hasn’t physically appeared on the court in years, a cartoon version of him has been featured on the waistbands of their city edition jerseys recently. In 2023, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone made waves by getting a tattoo of Maxie holding the Larry O'Brien trophy to commemorate Denver’s first NBA Championship.

Sir Slam-A-Lot // Detroit Pistons

In 1994, inspired by Sir Mix-A-Lot’s hit “Baby Got Back,” the Pistons unveiled Sir Slam-A-Lot. Unlike traditional mascots, he wore tights, basketball shorts, and a shiny knight’s mask instead of a furry costume. It’s unlikely his title was bestowed by actual royalty. He was the team’s third mascot attempt, following Mr. Piston in the 1960s and Cocky Rocky, who lasted only two seasons.

Despite their efforts, the Pistons didn’t find success with Sir Slam-A-Lot. In 1995, Rob Parker of the Detroit Free Press noted, “The crowd only cheers for Sir Slam-A-Lot when he’s handing out free pizza.” He was replaced by Hooper the horse in 1996.

Turbo and Booster // Houston Rockets

Unlike many mascots, Turbo quickly gained a loyal fanbase after his introduction in 1993. When the Rockets announced his dismissal the following year, more than 1600 fans protested by calling the front office. Turbo, known for his red and yellow skin-tight outfit, cape, mask, and sunglasses, was reinstated within months and remained until the early 2000s. His acrobatic dunks were a crowd favorite, and a four-minute video showcasing them is still available on the Rockets’ official YouTube channel.

Gymnast Jerry Burrell brought Turbo to life, along with another Rockets mascot, Booster, a green and purple alien with sunglasses. Booster once accidentally aided an opposing player during a 1990 game against the Atlanta Hawks. When Booster tried to distract center Jon Koncak with a bikini-clad poster, Koncak missed a free throw. The referee allowed a redo, which Koncak made, helping the Hawks win 113–110.

Berserker and Thunder // Golden State Warriors

During the 1996-’97 season, while the Oakland Coliseum was under renovation, the Golden State Warriors played at the San Jose Arena. To mark this transitional period, they introduced their first mascot, Berserker, inspired by a Norse warrior. With sunglasses and a tuft of yellow hair under a backward cap, Berserker resembled a Sasquatch in a Warriors jersey.

The team cleverly tied Berserker’s origin to the arena renovations. A promotional poster claimed he was a sewer creature discovered in a crate “in the plumbing channel used for freezing the floor … Coolant and asbestos may explain his unusual appearance.” However, Berserker disappeared by the next season, possibly returning to the plumbing.

From 1997 to 2008, the Warriors were represented by Thunder, a mascot who embodied the high-energy, sunglasses-wearing style of the ’90s. His retirement coincided with the arrival of the Oklahoma City Thunder, likely due to the name conflict. Since then, the Warriors have not introduced another mascot.

Sam Dunk // Los Angeles Clippers

For one season, Clippers fans were introduced to Sam Dunk, a towering human-like mascot. Upon his debut in November 1985, fans jeered at him. Despite his name, Sam never performed a dunk—though the team had a trampoline, concerns about insurance kept him grounded. He attempted to gain fame with half-court shots, but after missing two in a row during a game, a referee took the ball from him, prompting cheers from the crowd. The general manager then banned him from further attempts, leaving Sam Dunk to focus on high fives and dancing until his retirement in 1986.

Big Shot and Hoops // Philadelphia 76ers

Big Shot is the 76ers’ mascot that refuses to stay retired. This round, blue figure with vibrant orange hair first appeared in the late 1970s, initially nameless and referred to as “It.” Fans were unimpressed, and after being hired in 1980, team president Lou Scheinfeld removed him, stating, “I had countless people—on radio shows, in elevators—telling me, ‘Get rid of Big Shot.’ So I did.”

However, Big Shot didn’t stay gone for long. By 1982, he returned, accompanied by Hoops, a yellow bird. Big Shot gained fame for his dance skills, especially his Michael Jackson impression, complete with the moonwalk. Fortunately, footage remains of Big Shot energizing the crowd (and even some players) with his impressive performance.

Big Shot disappeared in the mid-1990s, but if any mascot knows how to make a comeback, it’s him. In 2012, 76ers CEO Adam Aron noted a “surprising wave of support” for his return.

Hip-Hop // Philadelphia 76ers

Following Big Shot’s retirement, Philadelphia fans welcomed a muscular rabbit named Hip-Hop in 1998. Alongside his crew, the Hare Raisers, Hip-Hop performed typical mascot trampoline dunks. However, like many NBA players, overuse led to injuries, and Hip-Hop underwent physical therapy in 2008 for a knee injury, documented in a YouTube video on the team’s official channel.

The Gorilla // Sacramento Kings

Surprisingly, there were once two gorilla mascots in the NBA simultaneously. In 1985, the Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento, and The Gorilla made his debut, quickly becoming a fan favorite. However, the Phoenix Suns had their own gorilla mascot since 1980, which still exists today. In 1989, the Suns’ Gorilla mocked Kings Coach Jerry Reynolds for fainting during a game, prompting the Kings’ Gorilla to meet with Reynolds to express, as The Sacramento Bee reported, “his displeasure with his fellow mascot.” By the ’90s, The Kings’ Gorilla was replaced by their current mascot, Slamson the Lion.

Squatch // Seattle Supersonics

Squatch is unique among mascots for having his own theme song composed by a rock star. In 2007, Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America released a song dedicated to Squatch, featuring the mascot on drums. Squatch made his debut in 1993 and retired in 2008 when the Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City. Known for his dunking and stunts, Squatch once executed a rollerskate jump over the cars of NBA players Ray Allen and Robert Swift. However, his daring acts sometimes led to mishaps, such as falling on stilts or losing his mascot head during a trampoline dunk attempt.

Beyond his daring feats, Squatch had a humorous side. He shared a playful rivalry with Charles Barkley. In 1996, Barkley tricked Squatch by pretending to shake his hand but instead punched him. Later that year, Squatch gave Barkley a giant baby bottle, which Barkley promptly kicked into the crowd.

The Wheedle // Seattle Supersonics

Before Squatch, the Supersonics were represented by The Wheedle, or T. Wheedle. This orange, furry character with a round head and purple eyes debuted in 1977, inspired by a children’s book character of the same name, which rhymes with Space Needle, his supposed home.

The Wheedle enjoyed some success. In his debut year, Washington’s Daily Chronicle reported, “The Wheedle wanders the sidelines during games, often followed by a group of kids who adore him more than the team itself.”

In 1981, The Wheedle made news when his costume was stolen from the performer’s car but was quickly returned after being spotted at a Seattle playground. Despite his popularity, The Wheedle’s time was limited, lasting less than a decade.

Hoops and Tiny B-B // Washington Bullets

In 1979, Jimmy Carter made history as the first president to attend an NBA game, witnessing the Washington Bullets triumph over the Atlanta Hawks at Capital Centre. During the event, he also met Tiny B-B, a dachshund who served as the Bullets’ mascot in the 1970s.

Two decades later, the Bullets introduced Hoops, a mascot with a basketball for a head and a basket covering his torso, topped with a hat labeled “Hoops.” Hoops is perhaps most famous for being ejected from a game in 1991 (above) after urging the crowd to loudly protest the referees, prompting referee Steve Javie to remove him. When the Bullets rebranded as the Wizards in 1997, Hoops was unfortunately retired.