NBA at Christmas: history, traditions, records and more

Check out everything you need to know about the NBA’s Christmas Day tradition.

Opening gifts while spending time with loved ones has been part of many families’ traditions on Valentine’s Day. Christmas for generations. So has watching basketball.

As families around the world excitedly open gifts, sounds and images emanate from televisions and fill the rooms. Knowing this, the NBA strategically decided from the beginning to schedule games on Christmas Day that would showcase the best teams and players in the league in an effort to captivate television audiences.

Today, the NBA on Christmas Day reaches viewers in more than 200 countries and territories with broadcasts in more than 50 different languages.

Below, check out more facts about the NBA’s Christmas Day tradition:

What is the NBA Christmas schedule in 2024?

• San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks – 11 am CDMX / 12 pm ET on ABC/AM850/AM850+

• Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks – 1:30 pm CDMX / 2:30 pm ET on ABC/AM850/AM850+

• Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics – 4 pm CDMX / 5 pm ET on ABC/AM850/AM850+

• Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors – 7 pm CDMX / 8 pm ET on ABC/AM850/AM850+

• Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns – 9:30 pm CDMX / 10:30 pm ET on ABC/AM850/AM850+

When did the NBA Christmas tradition start?

The NBA began playing games on Christmas Day in 1947.a year after the creation of the league. The New York Knicks defeated the Providence Steamrollers 89-75 at Madison Square Garden in the Christmas League opener. Since then, the NBA has played games on Christmas Day every year except 1998, when a lockout canceled half of the 1998-99 season.

Which team has played the most games at Christmas?

The Knicks They have played the most games on Christmas Day with 56.

Which team has the most wins at Christmas?

The Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers They are tied for the most Christmas Day wins with 24 each.

Which team has the highest winning percentage on Christmas?

He Miami Heat has the highest winning percentage among active teams on Christmas Day at .857 (12-2), which includes its current nine-game winning streak. The Heat are undefeated on Christmas Day under current coach Erik Spoelstra (9-0).

Which team has the longest Christmas winning streak?

The Portland Trail Blazers they won an NBA record 13 consecutive games on Christmas Day from 1972 to 2007.

Which coach has the most victories at Christmas?

Phil Jackson and Jack Ramsay They share the record for most head coaching wins on Christmas Day with 11 each.

Which player has the most wins at Christmas?

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade They are tied for the most Christmas Day wins with 10 each.

Which player has played the most games at Christmas?

LeBron James He is the career leader in Christmas Day games played with 18.

Which player has scored the most points at Christmas?

LeBron James He is the career leader in points on Christmas Day with 476.

Which player has scored the most points in a single Christmas game?

Bernard King He scored a record 60 points on Christmas Day for the Knicks in a 120-114 loss to the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden in 1984.

Only four players scored at least 50 points on Christmas:

-1984: Bernard King, 60 against Nets

-1961: Wilt Chamberlain, 59 in Knicks

-2023: Luka Doncic, 50 at Suns

-1966: Rick Barry, 50 in Royals

Which player has the highest points average on Christmas?

Tracy McGrady has a career-high scoring average on Christmas Day at 43.4 points per game. McGrady scored at least 40 points in each of his three games on Christmas Day.

Which player has the most rebounds at Christmas?

Bill Russell He is the career leader in rebounds on Christmas Day with 176.

Which player has the most rebounds in a single Christmas game?

Wilt Chamberlain had a record 36 rebounds on Christmas Day for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 136-135 double-overtime loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in 1961. The record for most rebounds in a regular game on Christmas Day was held by Chamberlain (1959) and Bill Russell (1965) share 34 each.

Which player has the most assists on Christmas?

Oscar Robertson He is the career leader in assists on Christmas Day with 145.

Which player has the most assists in a single Christmas game?

Guy Rodgers He had a record 18 assists on Christmas Day for the Chicago Bulls in a 133-132 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in 1966. Nate “Tiny” Archibald He matched Rodgers’ mark of 18 assists for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings in a 104-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972.

Which player has the most blocks on Christmas?

Shaquille O’Neal He is the career leader in blocked shots on Christmas Day with 25.

Which player has the most blocks in a single Christmas game?

DeAndre Jordan He had a record eight blocked shots on Christmas Day for the Los Angeles Clippers in a 105-86 win over the Golden State Warriors in 2011.

Which player has the most steals on Christmas?

Russell Westbrook He is the career leader in Christmas Day steals with 29.

Which player has the most steals in a single Christmas game?

Kyrie Irving He had a Christmas Day-high seven steals for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 109-108 win against the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

Which player has scored the most three-pointers on Christmas?

James Harden He is the career leader in three-pointers made on Christmas Day with 31.

Which player has scored the most three-pointers in a single Christmas game?

Grayson Allen (2023), Luka Doncic (2023) and Patty Mills (2021) They made a record eight 3-pointers on Christmas Day in their respective holiday games. Allen and Doncic had their shooting performances against each other. Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks defeated Allen and the Phoenix Suns 128-114.

Perfect from the free throw line

Nikola Jokic finished with 26 points on 4-of-12 shooting, but was 18-of-18 on free throws for the Denver Nuggets in a 120-114 win against the Warriors on Christmas Day 2023. That’s the most free throws without a miss in a Christmas Day game in NBA history.