NBA Christmas games
game held national basketball association nba christmas day december annual tradition since league second season since five game played christmas unlike national football league nfls traditional thanksgiving day game nbas christmas day game fixed opponent rather feature best team player since current nba champion play game christmas day first nba game played december came year nbas inception new york knicks beat providence steamroller madison square garden – since nba played game every year christmas day except lockout canceled half – season contrast major league baseball mlb major league soccer ml offseasons christmas national football league nfl schedule christmas game christmas fall weekend even schedule game christmas occasionally national hockey league nhls collective bargaining agreement forbids playing game christmas eve christmas day boxing day celebrated canada statutory holiday though otherwise nonholiday day christmas united state season latter fall saturday break occurs one day earlier december – college football bowl game traditionally scheduled christmas defunct aloha bowl one year replacement espn eventsowned hawaii bowl game moved date specifically due espnabcs acquisition nba telecast including christmas day game thus nba league regularly schedule game december early day regional proximity dictated matchup team would usually play geographical rival cut holiday travel allow time family according dr jack ramsay coached portland trail blazer – championship season christmas meant home family game always perfect christmas set record coaching victory christmas day achievement phil jackson later matched early new york knicks put show three consecutive season one game halloffame forward bernard king scoring points—the ever scored player christmas day advent television excitement caused game nba decided schedule game holiday showcased best team player specific system determine team play christmas game official nba network broadcast nba meet offseason plan schedule game upcoming holiday christmas matchup usually include team played previous season nba final nba also usually try feature league reigning mvp well league best player example include defending champion season los angeles lakers played home cleveland cavalier miami heat could showdown kobe bryant lebron james time knicks played christmas day game team total – holiday recent yuletide appearance came defeated milwaukee buck – madison square garden knicks checkered history th win tied team christmas day loss conversely charlotte hornet active nba team never play christmas day scheduled play least since joining league includes franchise second incarnation charlotte bobcat played first christmas day game take place outside united state took place boston celtic defeated toronto raptor scotiabank arena toronto canada player participated christmas day player coach doc river played knicks coached celtic phil jackson also participated player coach part least holiday game coaching christmas every year exception retirement end – season th game christmas day lebron james currently hold record game played christmas day game many team player played day worn special uniform sneaker knicks wore third jersey greenorange alternate first used exclusively st patrick day game heat lakers player team wore holiday sneaker bryant pau gasol lamar odom wore limegreen nike sneaker james chris bosh wore holidayred shoe green lace team playing christmas day wore patch featuring nba logo inside snowflake nba adidas produced special uniform christmas game uniform feature particular theme monochromatic design big color chrometreated logo big logo stance provided christmasthemed sock game nike became uniform provider christmasthemed uniform produced instead nba team playing day wore either city statement alternate uniform – season team wore fifth alternate known earned uniform given reward making nba playoff snowflake patch returned back nba uniform however exception miami heat wore statement red uniform team playing day wore either primary association icon uniform miami heat best highest christmas day win percentage nba christmas day contest featured memorable game ever played bernard king scored point new york knicks patrick ewing helped knicks come back beat celtic trailing point beat michael jordan bull lastsecond jumper scottie pippen performed lastsecond block first showdown featuring kobe bryant shaquille oneal opponent occurred christmas featured faceoffs lebron james kobe bryant phil jackson becoming fastest coach win game happened december lebron james became alltime christmas day scorer point surpassing kobe bryant scored point result lockout christmas day also season opener espnabc analyst jeff van gundy talked day saying different opening day ever happened past christmas day game always big day nba unique situation combined unveiling championship banner maverick final rematch see lakers debut mike brown head coach thing going compelling rivalry also showcased game played day every christmas one featured game involving either new york knicks chicago bull two team playing twice bull championship season – would met third time lockout year neither team played christmas day bull first championship season second threepeat – nba showcased shaq–kobe feud since christmas featured game involving either celtic lakers team playing holiday every year since great pairing two team faced first lakers recent backtoback championship season – first meeting two team since final year home team – christmas game winning percentage home team christmas day better overall winning percentage home team regular season playoff since first telecast nba game christmas day date back league early year providence steamroller played new york knicks wcbs channel pm eastern time stan lomax bob edge called game fifteen minute later pm central time joe wilson broadcast game baltimore bullet chicago stag wbkb channel chicago first nationally televised christmas day nba broadcast occurred abc broadcast game los angeles lakers san diego rocket san diego jerry gross jack twyman called broadcast abc abc would continue televise christmas day game chris schenkel playbyplay abc period exception keith jackson honor jack twyman remained color commentating position bill russell took exception cbs broadcast game christmas day however game became household tradition cbs broadcast game new jersey net new york knicks espn broadcast game los angeles lakers portland trail blazer sam smith dick vitale call espn nbc broadcast doubleheader year christmas day except game played christmas day due – nba lockout continued abc took except abc broadcast one game three year – abc insisted christmas day game miami heat los angeles lakers kobe bryant shaquille oneal could play since abc took nba espn also broadcast game christmas day except since christmas day broadcast espn abc featured music video mariah carey singing want christmas carey added oh santa tnt broadcast christmas day first time marv albert mike fratello craig sager called game washington cleveland cleveland kevin harlan reggie miller cheryl miller called game dallas portland portland marked first time three network cover nba abc espn tnt produced game christmas day christmas day fell thursday year tnt given two primetime game part regular tnt nba thursday slate scenario also took place due nba lockout season opener took place christmas day year result nba gave tnt first game christmas slate contest celtic knicks madison square garden calling game marv albert former knicks broadcaster steve kerr albert also working cbss nfl coverage forced miss scheduled week game day also day abc broadcast dallas maverick championship banner ceremony pregame show marked first time nba history pregame championship banner ceremony aired terrestrial television network either turner sport regional sport network aired ceremony previous year unique situation abc aired nba tripleheader first time ever headlined nba final rematch lebron james cavalier steph curry kevin durant warrior would prelude final rematch resulted warrior sweep espn aired monday night football christmas night aired one game et tnt aired pm game network first christmas day game since however instead employing either marv albert kevin harlan roster game analyst turner opted use inside nba crew ernie johnson shaquille oneal kenny jet smith charles barkley game tnt sideline reporter kristen ledlow working sideline halftime since least one christmas day game simulcast espn abc abc originally scheduled air tripleheader however october espn announced five christmas day game would simulcast across abc espn likely attempt counterprogram nfls scheduling christmas day tripleheader across cbs fox nbc network programming spanning throughout day beginning good morning america weekend starting local time disney park christmas day parade airing across country et nba coverage stretching first tripleheader game philadelphia–new york noon et also featured alternate broadcast espn hosted stephen smith simulcast espn conclusion last game phoenix–denver et early december game went overtime abc affiliate gave local news department employee entire day christmas day falling monday nfl also scheduled monday night football day abcespn hold broadcast right nba christmas game monday night football decided espn air five nba game espn would also stream five game first time ever abc simulcast two golden state–denver pm et followed boston–la lakers pm et favor exclusively airing monday night football game also streamed espn would mark first time since abc televise fewer three nba christmas game espn also simulcast game espn aired alternate broadcast first game milwaukeenew york knicks noon et hosted wnba legend sue bird diana taurasi espn middle three five christmas game abcespn simulcast first last game espn current nba team several fan player coach member news medium support tradition christmas game player coach standard public statement christmas game honor chance play national television also reward great team great player game celtic magic amway arena personnel side referred playing christmas reward celtic coach doc river said like player always watched christmas day game growing said kid wanted christmasi tend look reward added honor part marquee game saying look privilege fact asked u play christmas mean one good team one featured team magic center dwight howard said didnt see challenge playing basketball christmas couldnt help play pretty good team play christmas enjoy id rather playing christmas sitting home wishing playing christmas like think fun lamar odom called tremendous privilege able entertain worldplaying tv game knicks coach mike dantoni said player fortunate playing christmas day help league andit help people christmas holiday doug white espn executive said christmas thanksgiving nba side obviously christmas day day everybody home everybody relaxing better way serve many game possibly canwe try put best game possible people interest jermaine oneal celtic agreed saying special whole world watching christmas special day everybody together spend time far family friend opportunity bringing family u make much special—the opportunity play front rest world together christmas family broadcast nba game commentator news medium agreed white said nature game played made christmas day best day nba regular season serve preview potential series playoff perhaps final recent year player coach complained playing christmas day saying take time away family orlando magic coach stan van gundy requested nba schedule game christmas day saying actually feel sorry people nothing christmas day watch nba game said day best spent family magic coach fined comment complaint side game miami heat los angeles lakers los angeles lakers coach phil jackson son two christian minister author book spiritual growth related basketball said dont think anybody play christmas day like christian holiday dont meananything heat lebron james said ask player league wed rather home familiesits regular holiday itsone day wish could wake morning kid open present others managed voice discontent still accepting christmas game tradition game bull knicks new york coach mike dantoni said adjust little bit open present oclock night instead oclock morning raymond felton said youd rather family still going celebrate like many player said fortunate played family attendance bull coach tom thibodeau said think honor privilege playing know tough away team particularly player kid thats part derrick rose said im going miss family hate away home job honor playing christmas nba erroneously criticized scheduling game detroit piston indiana pacer first matchup since brawl two team faced regular season game scheduled well brawl took place played higherthannormal security presence fan restriction prevent repeat occurrence game scheduled day drew similar criticism game miami heat los angeles lakers staple center marked first time since lakers traded shaquille oneal heat two team facing first time shaq kobe bryant would facing opponent nba schedule game christmas eve december allow player coach play christmas day family also family player coach participate christmas game normally attend game nbas christmas game garnered highest rating televised regular season nba game tv rating biggest christmas game often higher nba game outside nba final many u sport fan christmas serf unofficial start nba season usual start nba season occurs relatively little fanfare compared nfl mlb league consequential point season however rating nbas christmas game usually pale comparison nfl whenever league play game christmas day beginning nfl scheduled christmas day game annually opposed previous year league scheduled game christmas whenever fall weekend resulted rating decline nba holiday instance nba suffered recordlow average rating million viewership christmas day game whereas nfl game averaged million viewer eisenberg jeff december christmas tradition riverside ca pressenterprise p b