Hooper is the official mascot of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. He was introduced in 1996 to replace Sir Slam A Lot. Hooper was created during the teal era to represent the Pistons logo at the time, and he was used to symbolize the horsepower the team produces.
It was Hooper's popularity that kept him with the team, despite the Pistons leaving the teal color and returning to their previous red, white and blue. They also changed their basketball logo a few years later. The Hooper character has undergone many changes over the years and he previously had a red and yellow mane and tail to match the teal era logo. Despite the changes over the years, Hopper is still loved in the Motor City.
Hooper is known for his energy, dance moves and cheering for his team from his seat behind one of the baskets. Besides performing in games, he also visits schools in the Detroit region and makes appearances on television and charity events.
Detroit Pistons Mascot Hooper
Hooper generally appears as a horse with a Detroit Pistons jersey. He is also part of the Pistons flight crew, a group which performs dunks during timeouts and halftime with the help of a trampoline.
Hooper is said to have been trained as a racehorse after being born in Lucky, Kentucky. However, Hooper was too talented to be a racing horse, so he trained harder to improve his skills and earned the Detroit Pistons official mascot spot. He is known to break bricks with his hoof, perform magic tricks, juggling and rappelling down the roof of the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Hooper is a thinner version of the previous “Pistons” logo with a goofy smile and googled eyes. He dons dark-coloured fur with white socks and a Pistons jersey with “H” imprinted on it.
No information is available regarding the name of the person who performs as Hooper. NBA mascot salaries are kept confidential, however, it is estimated that professional mascot salaries start at around $25,000 per annum.
FAQs
A. Hooper is a horse and the official mascot of the Detroit Pistons.
A. The Pistons adopted a physical style of play on defence, for which they were named the Bad Boy Pistons. The team included Rick Mahorn, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas, John Salley and Dennis Rodman. They reached the final three times, winning two consecutive NBA championships in 1989 and 1990.
A. Hooper is the mascot for the Pistons, known for his clever skits, amazing stunts, and hyping up the crowd. His talents include dunking, skydiving, stilt walking and dancing.
A. Sir Slam A Lot was the Pistons’ mascot before Hooper.
