Just like the ball and basket, a mascot remains a necessary ingredient for the show running an NBA game. Almost at every game, fans can witness an enthusiastic character dressed in a comical outfit to keep the crowd on their feet throughout their viewing experience. One such decorated mascot is the Dallas Mavericks‘ Champ. He is a blue-furred horse with a white mane and a tail, springing with joy, donning the Mavs’ jersey. Apart from his usual antics on the court tonight, he grabbed the NBA world’s attention with a dance-off with Ja Morant.

The Mavs hosted the Memphis Grizzlies for their preseason opener at the American Airlines Center. It was indeed an eventful day for Morant, who returned to the court following his grave shoulder injury from last season. The 25-year-old announced his comeback with a series of acrobatic plays in the first half that left the crowd buzzing. In addition to his 18-minute marvel on the court, Ja surprised the crowd, showcasing a cheerful moment with Champ.

During a brief pause, Champ hopped on the court and began interacting with Ja Morant. The blue-skinned horse broke into a dance move and pointed his finger at Morant for a reply. The star guard, who was in a joy groove, responded with an arm wave, leaving the crowd to erupt in joy.

However, Ja Morant had an unfortunate injury scare moments after the dance-off. The star twisted his ankle in a freak accident and limped off the court. Even though he returned to the court after a brief inspection, he again took off after 18 minutes of play. And, as a promising update, he said, “I’m good. It’s preseason, man,” after the game.

Even after the scary on-court incident, Morant’s dance-off with Champ went viral online, peaking interest in the interesting mascot. Interestingly, the star guard responded to the video clip, writing, “i should’ve got active like dj did in dat pool on stomp the yard,” via his X handle.

Champ – All you need to know about the Mavs’ mascot who danced with Ja Morant

This blue horse reportedly came into existence during the Mavs’ championship run in 2011. It will be surprising to know who created this high-spirited mascot. It’s none other than the former Boston Celtics Lucky the Leprechaun, Jeff Goodin. Currently, Ted Ovletrea is the man behind the mask, ensuring the engagement of the Texas audience. Unlike other mascots, Champ isn’t alone when it comes to entertaining the crowd.

Alongside Champ, the franchise also introduced MavsMan, another mascot who is part man and part basketball. These two mascots created numerous memorable moments during the half-time show with their dunk exhibitions and half-court buckets. Notably, the Mavs haven’t publicly revealed the salary details of the mascots, but according to Boardroom TV, the average salary of an NBA mascot is $60,000 per year. Now, it’s almost known to everyone that the Nuggets’ mascot, Rocky, the mountain lion, earns the top dollar with $625k per year.

However, the Mavs’ official site revealed the mascot’s hourly salary. It ranges from $250 to $900 depending upon their place of visit, which could be a school, college, business place, or non-profit organization. Watch out for Champ and MavsMan’s fun audience interaction during the timeouts and halftime in the upcoming season.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.