5. The Coyote: San Antonio Spurs
It figures that the San Antonio Spurs would have one of the best mascots in the NBA. They’ve excelled at just about everything else over the last two decades.
First appearing with the team in 1983, The Coyote found numerous ways to keep the crowd engaged during game breaks, whether it was riding a unicycle, dribbling a ball off his feet or even removing his googly, green eyes.
However, The Coyote’s most crucial job is capturing any bats that break loose inside the AT&T Center. The team previously had future Basketball Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili fill this spot, but it was clear that The Coyote was more committed to the task. After all, The Coyote went as far as to don a Batman costume to rid the arena of the winged mammal.
Add all this up, and not only do you get a former Mascot of the Year winner (2014) but a Mascot Hall of Fame inductee (2007) as well. His wacky look is chum for the kids and if any other mascots give him any problems, he can always call on Shawn Michaels to deliver some sweet chin music when necessary.
Particularly since the Tim Duncan era, most fans see the Spurs as the antithesis of wacky fun. But despite their assembly line of stoic stars, The Coyote’s presence has always reminded fans that this is an entertainment product first.