NBA mascot power rankings, best past and present

15. Squatch: Seattle SuperSonics

Perhaps the people who claimed to have spotted Sasquatch had one too many at a SuperSonics game and mistook the team’s mascot for the fabled wildlife creature? It makes a lot more sense than believing that the missing link is hiding out somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

Debuting in 1993, Squatch became as beloved in Seattle as the franchise he performed for. Of course, when you can pull off cool dunks like this one from the top of a ladder, it’s easy to win the fans’ approval.

At his peak, Squatch would make about 175 appearances per year at a variety of events. But he made his home at the Key Arena cheering on the SuperSonics and keeping the Seattle faithful energized and entertained during breaks in the action.

He even attempted to break the world record for the highest jump while wearing inline skates. Squatch tried to conquer this feat with a 30-foot jump over then-Sonics players Ray Allen and Robert Swift’s respective cars. Here’s how that turned out:

"To promote Thursday’s start of the NBA Finals on ABC, the NBA’s best mascot attempted to set a world record by jumping 30 feet in the air on inline skates. Adding degree of difficulty, Squatch made the jump over Ray Allens’s Porsche and Robert Swift’s Chrysler 300 – in a summer Seattle downpour. Squatch fell short of 30 feet, but did clear both cars."

Sadly, Squatch’s time with the team ended when the team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 — with the man who portrayed Squatch moving with the team. But like the other memories that Seattle fans have about their beloved team, Squatch will hold a special place in their hearts.