Despite parts of the schedule leaking these past weeks, the NBA finally officially unveiled its schedule for the 2023-24 season. Fans will be treated to five games jam-packed with action on December 25th, 2023. A true Holiday treat for basketball aficionados.
The games will start at 12:00 pm ET and end with a 10:30 pm ET matchup, with no games overlapping each other. Giving fans in all time zones a chance to revel in their favorite sports during Xmas festivities.
Guess the matchups from these funny NBA schedule release videos
5 NBA games slated for Christmas Day
The NBA will showcase five exciting matchups that will have basketball fans glued to their TVs while they open presents and eat Christmas leftovers.
The Christmas Day slate is reported as follows:
Postseason rivals take the stage
In order to offer fans the most competitive matchups, the league will feature rivalries that set the playoffs on fire last season.
The Heat vs 76ers game will be a rematch of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals, while the Mavs vs Suns showdown will be a rematch from the Western Conference Finals.
The game between the Warriors and the Nuggets is also a rematch from the first round of the 2021-22 Western Conference’s first round.
The NBA will compete for viewership with NFL on Christmas
The NBA will also have tough competition for viewership with the NFL who will be holding three games featuring high-profile teams. The games corresponding to Week 16 of the regular season are:
Has the NBA ever played games on Christmas Day?
Yes, the NBA’s Christmas games are a long-slated tradition running all the way back from 1947, one year after the league’s inception. Since then, basketball has dominated Xmas Day airwaves with games on December 25th every single year (aside from 1998-99, when there was a half-season lockout).
In contrast to the NFL, the NBA isn’t doing anything new in regards to the past. As a matter of fact, the basketball league also held five games on Christmas Day during the 2022-23 season.
NBA on Christmas: disliked by some coaches and players
While the tradition has earned praise from fans in general, several notable figures in the league have been critical of games being played on the 25th of December. Back in 2009, former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said: “I actually feel sorry for people who have nothing to do on Christmas Day other than watch an NBA game”. The comments earned him a fine from the league.
LeBron James and Savannah shine alongside Beyonce and Zendaya at Louis Vuitton’s Paris fashion show
Coaching legend Phil Jackson, raised in a Christian household, also expressed his disdain for the tradition in 2010. “It’s like Christian holidays don’t mean anything any more”, the former Lakers and Bulls coach said. NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James also voiced his displeasure at the tradition with comments expressed that same year. In 2023, he’ll have to suit up to play the Celtics in Los Angeles (5:00 pm ET).
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