Crunch the Wolf is the official mascot of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He was introduced in 2003, and has been an integral part of the team at every home game since then. He also represents the team at various charity and community events.
According to the team’s website, he was born in the northernmost wilderness of Minnesota. Both Crunch’s parents were perplexed by his love for basketball. He picked up the game on his own with a basket made up of pine-cones and birch barks. He started honing his skills as a young pup and migrated to the twin city where the Timberwolves are based.
No one knows where Crunch lives, but it is believed that he resides inside a den somewhere in the Target Center. The deafening howls of the Timberwolves fans lure him out on match days. The howls of the audience create an atmosphere that reminds him of his time in the forest and yet keeps him in the city to help his team win.
Why is the Wolves mascot called Crunch?
He was named after the team’s logo and after the famous Nestle chocolate bar “Crunch.”. It was also a tribute to the Minnesota North Stars, a former pro-hockey team. Crunch loves to entertain the audience of all ages with his comical hijinks and energetic antics. According to NBAmascots.com, the mascot is performed by two people. The primary performer loves to interact with the fans and entertain them with his signature moves, while the secondary performer assists him and makes sure the performances are smooth. Information about Crunch’s salary is not available in the public domain, however, it is estimated that he earns around $25,000 per year.
Crunch is 6 feet tall and weighs around 190 pounds. He is famous for the Inside-Out flying Dutchman Dunk and was inducted into the 2017 NBA Mascot Hall of Fame. He was also named one of the best mascots in 2019 by ESPN.
The Timberwolves organization has had several mascots over the years — the Wolves Pack, Prowley the Wolf and T-Wolves over the years. However, none of them were as popular as Crunch the Wolf.
FAQs on Minnesota Timberwolves' Mascot
A. The Minnesota Timberwolves are sponsored by Nestle, which is why they named their mascot after Nestle’s famous chocolate Crunch.
A. His salary is not yet disclosed, but it is estimated to be $25,000 per year.
A. Rocky the Mountain Lion is the highest paid mascot with an annual salary of $625,000. He is the official mascot of the Denver Nuggets.
A. Crunch the Wolf was introduced in 2003 and is 20 years old.
