The Utah Jazz have fired Jon Absey, the man who acted as the Utah Jazz Bear since it the mascot’s inception in 1994, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.
It is not clear why Absey was let go, but the team did confirm that he is no longer with the organization.
“The Jazz Bear will continue to be one of the most iconic mascots in the NBA," Jazz spokesman Frank Zang said Friday afternoon. “Out of respect for its character, which is separate from any employee every associated with it, we have never discussed it’s identity. We do not discuss individual personnel matters.