Who is the Spurs mascot? Everything to know about the Coyote

Nearly every NBA team has its own unique mascot, and the San Antonio Spurs are no exception. Fans that frequent the Frost Bank Center are more than familiar with the iconic Coyote, who rocks the number "2!" jersey and trots around, cheering on the team and entertaining the entire building.

This is typically the role of any sports mascot - to provide fans a tangible representation of the team's name and to give them a visible leader of the fanbase that engages them and seeks to foster growth of excitement for that team. That is precisely what the Coyote has been doing for the Spurs since his inception.

History of the Spurs' mascot

Originally debuting in 1983, the Coyote became the Spurs' official mascot 10 years after they moved to San Antonio from Dallas, and seven seasons after they departed the now-defunct ABA and joined the NBA.

The Coyote has mostly maintained his same appearance over the years, which includes the bulging bright green eyes and brown fur. One specific quirk about the Coyote is that he typically does not wear pants, which led to the infamous #PantsOptional hashtag. However, sometimes exceptions are made to this rule.

Of course, the Coyote is named for the type of small, wild wolf that is common to North America.

Role and activities of the Coyote

The Coyote is an extremely visible member of the Spurs organization, appearing at all home games as well as countless promotional events and other public appearances made by Spurs players and coaches.

His cheers, dances and crowd engaging activities make him a crucial part of any game at Frost Bank Center. If you see the Coyote anywhere, you can be sure you are near a major function involving the San Antonio Spurs.

Popularity and fan engagement

Interestingly enough, the Coyote has become enormously popular among NBA fans for one particular reason. Back in 2009, a stray bat was flying around in the then-AT&T center in San Antonio during a Spurs home game. Quickly intervening, Manu Ginobili somehow smacked the bat out of mid-air with his bare hands.

Later, during the 2015-16 season, another bat was flying loose during a game. This time, the Coyote was able to trap the bat with a net... while wearing a Batman costume. You just can't make this stuff up. This past January, a similar incident occurred wherein the Coyote captured another bat in-game. Both clips went viral on social media.