NBA mascot power rankings, best past and present

12. Wheedle: Seattle SuperSonics

Before there was Squatch, there was Wheedle. Based on Washington native Stephen Cosgrove’s famed children’s book Wheedle on the Needle, the bubble-eyed creature debuted as the Seattle SuperSonics’ mascot during the 1978-79 NBA season, the year the Sonics won their only NBA championship.

Not only did the Wheedle serve as the Sonics’ mascot, but it was also the mascot of the Space Needle from 1970 to 1984. Fortunately for the city residents, it didn’t collect clouds from Mount Rainier, climb to the top of Seattle’s trademark landmark and unleash those rain clouds on the people as he did in Cosgrove’s book.

Wheedle was also at the center of some trailblazing moments as well; namely when Laurel Brown performed as Wheedle in the early years of its run as the Sonics mascot, becoming the first woman to portray a mascot for an NBA team.

By the time Weedle was retired in 1985, the mascot had left a memorable legacy behind, as it was the Grand Marshall of the 1979 Torchlight Parade and represented the city when it hosted the NCAA Men’s Final Four that same year. Much like its successor, Wheedle was not only ingrained into the fabric of the SuperSonics but the entire city.