Five games with the best teams of the NBA. The last three champions, the last two finalists, the last eight MVPs. The league handpicked the duels for Christmas Day, the most anticipated date during the regular season, and it couldn’t fail. It will be there 75th Christmas Day Edition in the best basketball league in the world and the fifteenth in a row with five games. At Christmas, the Memphis Grizzlies make their debut, which are the opposite of the Lakers, who have 24 consecutive editions or the Knicks with 54 games played.
It’s a special date and everyone knows it. This year, for the first time, the games will be broadcast on two television networks in the United States: ESPN and ABC (in Spain they can be followed on Movistar+ or NBA League Pass). A tradition as old as the championship itself. Although this year, for the first time in a long time, the NBA will have to deal with the NFL, which has three games scheduled for the 25th, the major sports league of the United States. It is expected to reach more than 200 countries, speak about 50 different languages and bring basketball as a gift around the world on Christmas Day. And Santa Claus, or Adam Silver, brings five must-see encounters.
Five duels, five narratives
The Sixers visit New York to open the day. The Knicks and the Sixers have met thirteen times at Christmas, the most repeated rivalry in history. Both teams arrive in direct playoff position and try to shorten the distances from Milwaukee and Boston, number 1 and number 2 in the conference. Coincidentally, the Bucks and Celtics will meet in Massachusetts for the first time since Game 7 of the conference semifinals last May. It’s the fourth time Boston has hosted a Christmas duel despite having played 35 times. Only the Knicks and Lakers have played more games on Dec. 25.
And they can’t miss the appointment. With LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and the loss of Anthony Davis, the Lakers visit Dallas. The Mavs have played in three consecutive Christmas games since Doncic’s emergence as an NBA star and will be the second at home after the 2011 duel against the Heat. The Lakers are also the team with the most wins with 24 (24-24 record). Game 4 is another rematch from past playoffs. The Warriors, sans Curry, will host some Grizzlies they eliminated in six games in the West semifinal. Only three Memphis players (Adams, Tyus Jones and Danny Green) have experience against the Warriors who have been playing for ten straight years.
Christmas night will be closed by the Denver Suns and Nuggets. The Nuggets will be looking for the second victory in their history (1-6) while Phoenix, which will be their 20th duel, continues to try to recover sensations after a turbulent start to the season. Notable absentees include the Miami Heat (11-2 record, hasn’t played since 2020), the Brooklyn Nets (6-5, 2021) or this season’s two revelations, Cleveland (7-7, 2017) and the Pelicans ( 1 -3, 2020). Unsurprisingly, most of us will see them next year at Christmas.
Christmas story
LeBron will try to make history. Arguing for a second it will become the first player to participate in 17 Christmas games. He will also be looking to be the player with the most wins (10-6 so far), tied with Wade. James is already a leading scorer and triple shooter and is on every leaderboards list: tenth in rebounds and blocks, second in steals and assists and one of eight players to have signed a triple-double at Christmas, in 2010 against the Lakers. Oscar Robertson (4) and Russell Westbrook (2), the only ones to have more than one, a list to which Draymond Green, James Harden or Kemba Walker can also be added.
But that’s not all about LeBron. The best performance, for example, is still given by Bernard King in 1984 with the Knicks. Only two more times Wilt Chamberlain with 59 and Rick Barry with 50, passed the fifty mark. The best average has it Tracy McGrady at 43.3, scoring 40+ every time he played on Christmas Day. Bill Russell is the best rebounder and no one active is close, Oscar Robertson the leader in assists and Shaq has put the most blocks, with Pau Gasol tied for sixth. There is only one other active leader besides LeBron: Westbrook in total steals.
win-level, none like the heat. Miami has the best Christmas winning percentage with an 11-2 record (84.6%), almost all under Erik Spoelstra who is undefeated in eight Christmas duels. Only Jack Ramsay, Phil Jackson, Gene Shue and Red Auerbach have more wins than the Heat coach. The Blazers (14-4, 77.8%) and the Jazz (6-2, 75%) close the podium with Toronto as the only active team that played at Christmas and never won (0-2). Three franchises haven’t played at Christmas for more than fifteen years: Sacramento since 2003. Indiana 2004 and Detroit 2005, and with the debut of Memphis, only the Hornets are missing. for participating in a Christmas game.
eg a special date around the world and the NBA is no exception. From George Mikan to LeBron James, all the best players in the league had to show off at Christmas and prove they were the best. It’s the most important date of the regular season and what could be better than celebrating it with family and friends and an NBA basketball marathon.
