Five Games. One Day. 78 Years of Tradition.
The 25th isn’t complete without the NBA, and this year’s matchups are dripping with history, stars, and storylines.
Christmas Day belongs to the NBA.
It always has. Since 1947, just the league’s second season , professional basketball has made December 25 its global stage, turning a holiday into a yearly showcase of stars, rivalries, and moments that live forever. This year marks the 78th edition of NBA games on The 25th Of December, and the league is once again delivering a marathon worthy of the moment: five nationally televised games, over 13 straight hours of coverage, and a worldwide audience spanning 215 countries in more than 50 languages.
This isn’t just basketball on a holiday. It’s basketball as the holiday.
The day opens in Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at noon ET. It’s the first time these franchises have ever met on the 2th, and it comes with quiet historical weight. The Knicks, one of the NBA’s original teams, will play their 58th Holiday Day game, extending their all-time record. Cleveland, meanwhile, returns to the Christmas spotlight for the first time since 2017, bringing a modern contender led by Donovan Mitchell, one of the league’s top scorers, and Darius Garland, making his Christmas debut. On the other side, Jalen Brunson, now a certified New York star, continues his rise as a top-10 scorer and the heartbeat of a Knicks team desperate to deliver something special at home.
At 2:30 ET, the spotlight shifts to youth, power, and inevitability as the San Antonio Spurs face the Oklahoma City Thunder. This matchup already carries bite. San Antonio recently snapped OKC’s 16-game winning streak in the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals, proving that no run is safe when Victor Wembanyama is involved. Wemby, who dropped 42 points and 18 rebounds in his Christmas debut last year, now returns with the eyes of the basketball world locked in. Across from him is the reigning Kia NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making his first-ever Christmas appearance, a moment years in the making for one of the league’s most relentless scorers. This game feels less like a regular-season contest and more like a preview of the NBA’s next decade.
By 5 ET, nostalgia and generational crossover take over as the Dallas Mavericks meet the Golden State Warriors. Christmas has always been Stephen Curry’s playground, and last year he reminded everyone why, tying a league record with eight three-pointers and scoring 38 points. This year adds another layer: Klay Thompson’s lone regular-season return to San Francisco, and the arrival of Cooper Flagg, who will become the youngest player to appear in a Christmas Day game since LeBron James in 2003. The past, present, and future of the NBA all sharing the same hardwood, that’s Christmas basketball at its best.
The night game at 8 ET might be the most emotionally charged of them all. The Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Lakers, marking Houston’s first Christmas appearance since 2019. It’s also loaded with debuts and reunions. Kevin Durant and LeBron James meet on Christmas Day for the first time since 2018, a reminder of how long these two icons have shaped the league. For the Lakers, it’s also the first Christmas in purple and gold for Luka Dončić, who continues to redefine what offensive dominance looks like. Meanwhile, Houston introduces Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson to the Christmas stage, signaling that the Rockets believe their future is ready for prime time.
The nightcap at 10:30 ET delivers pure competitive tension as the Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Denver Nuggets. Shockingly, it’s the first Christmas meeting between these teams, despite their recent playoff history. They split postseason series in 2023 and 2024, and there’s no love lost. Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 points in his Christmas debut last year, continues his ascent into superstardom, while Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets make their sixth Christmas appearance in seven seasons, a testament to sustained excellence. This game isn’t about flash — it’s about pride, scars, and unfinished business.
Beyond the matchups, Christmas Day is where NBA history breathes. LeBron James stands alone as the all-time Christmas leader in points (507), games played (19), field goals made (180), three-pointers made (31, tied), and victories (11). The legends echo everywhere. Bernard King’s 60-point explosion in 1984 still stands untouched. Wilt Chamberlain’s 36 rebounds, Oscar Robertson’s assist dominance, and Shaquille O’Neal’s rim protection remain benchmarks of greatness. Only ten players in NBA history have ever recorded a triple-double on Christmas Day, a reminder that even on the biggest stage, production is rare.
The league’s global reach only amplifies it all. Five games. One day. Millions watching across continents, generations, and time zones. The NBA doesn’t pause for Christmas, it defines it.
Because while presents get opened and dinners get served, basketball fans everywhere know one thing:
Christmas doesn’t start until the ball goes up.