NBA Christmas Day Games: Basketball’s Biggest Day of the Year 

The NFL has Thanksgiving, the NHL has New Year’s Day, and the NBA has Christmas. As families sit down in the morning to open gifts, the NBA’s biggest stars are taking to the court in the league’s biggest day of the year.  

The move to play on Christmas Day was a great marketing plan by the league, although it does mean that the players don’t always get to celebrate Christmas with their families. Most other leagues aren’t active on Christmas Day, meaning that the sports focus in North America is squarely on the NBA.  

Over the years, the NBA’s Christmas Day games have become a showcase of the best teams in the league. They feature intense rivalries and great storytelling, and often have the biggest stars in the league.  

Here is a quick look at the history of the NBA’s Christmas Day Games and why they are the biggest betting games at Canadian sportsbooks on the basketball calendar.  

History of the NBA Christmas Day Games 

While it might feel like the NBA Christmas Day games are a relatively new thing, the tradition dates all the way back to 1947. This was the first ever NBA game played on December 25th at Madison Square Garden between the New York Knicks and the Providence Steamrollers. The Knicks won the game by a score of 89-75.  

Since 1947, NBA has held games on Christmas Day in every season except for those disrupted by lockouts. Typically, the NBA tries to make these matchups geographically convenient to reduce travel times, although this has not mattered as much in recent years.  

As the popularity of the sport grew, the Christmas Day games became a showcase and, more importantly, a source of major television revenue for the league. The schedule grew from one game to five games today, featuring ten of the strongest teams from both conferences.  

There is no system for which teams get to play on Christmas Day, although teams with bright young superstars that are competitive often get to be featured. Christmas Day games also seem to favour having Christmas Dinner at home. The home teams are a staggering 142-75 since the tradition first started in 1947.  

Memorable Christmas Day Performances  

NBA players love the spotlight, and there have been some incredible individual performances during Christmas Day games. Here are some of the best and most memorable player performances from the NBA’s biggest day. 

In 1984, New York Knicks forward Bernard King put up 60 points, which remains the highest scoring effort in a Christmas Day game in NBA history. Despite his efforts, the Knicks lost that game to the New Jersey Nets.  

Wilt Chamberlain has a long list of impressive statistical feats and is considered one of the greatest big men to ever play the game. In 1961, Chamberlain made his mark on Christmas Day, posting a gaudy stat line of 59 points and 36 rebounds.  

Lebron James will go down as one of, if not the greatest, players to ever play in the NBA. James currently holds the NBA record for most appearances in a Christmas Day Game with 19 and is soon to be 20 this year. He also holds the record for most points scored in NBA Christmas Day Games with 507 points across those 19 appearances.  

Which NBA Teams Have Appeared in Christmas Day Games? 

Since the inception of the NBA Christmas Day Games in 1947, every NBA team has appeared except for one: the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets, and their recent iteration, which started as the Charlotte Bobcats, have only been around since 1988, so it hasn’t been an 80-year snub by the NBA.  

Here are the teams that have appeared in the most NBA Christmas Day Games: 

2025 NBA Christmas Day Games Preview 

This year, the NBA has five games scheduled starting at noon EST and ending at 10:30 PM EST. There are some familiar teams on the slate, with plenty of superstars and rising stars featured in the games. Closer to Christmas Day, you’ll be able to find the updated odds for each game on the slate at most Canadian online betting sites.  

Here are the five games on the 2025 NBA Christmas Day schedule and some interesting storylines for each game.  

Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks  

Two of the clear favourites in the Eastern Conference this year clash at Madison Square Garden in New York. It will be the Knicks’ 58th appearance on Christmas Day, and the team is fresh off the NBA Cup victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks have a sparkling 13-1 record at home this year and 9-1 in their last ten games.  

San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder  

A battle between the two brightest young stars in the NBA: Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama. “Wemby” is just returning from a calf strain that sidelined him for more than a dozen games. These two superstars will be battling for NBA MVP Awards for the next decade.  

Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors 

A long-time rivalry in the Western Conference will showcase the first Christmas Day game for number one overall pick Cooper Flagg. With superstars Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis still sidelined, it could be a legacy-making game for Flagg. It will also be a return to the Bay Area for long-time Warrior Klay Thompson.  

Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers 

Two of the top-five teams in a stacked Western Conference face off in Los Angeles on Christmas Day. It will mark Lebron James’ 20th Christmas Day game and certainly one of the last in his illustrious career.  

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets 

The Christmas Day slate ends in the Mile-High City as the Timberwolves and Nuggets renew their rivalry. These two teams met in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, where the Twolves eliminated the defending champions in seven games. Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic always make for must-see TV.