Since 1947, the NBA has been playing Christmas games. The first game took place at the famous Madison Square Garden when the New York Knicks defeated the Providence Steamrollers 89-75.
Since then, basketball fans have been able to enjoy the best players and teams competing in the joyous season – geographical distance being taken into account in the early days and television ratings having a lot more say in recent decades.
This year’s holiday action will mark the league’s 75th run on Christmas Day.
There will be five featured games on Sunday, December 25 for the 15th consecutive year. The Knicks host the 76ers to start the festivities, followed by the Lakers visiting the Mavericks, and the Celtics hosting the Bucks in a rematch of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Grizzlies will then make their debut on Christmas Day when face the Warriors in a rematch of the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals in California. The Christmas Day program will end with the Nuggets facing the Suns in Denver.
Related: NBA Christmas Day 2022 schedule: Games, time, TV, how to watch and stream
Christmas Day NBA: The Exception
Despite the strong tradition 1947-2022, there was a year that saw no action happen. No, it was not due to a recent pandemic, but rather due to a lockout which saw half of the 1998/99 season canceledincluding December 25.
NBA games on Christmas Day 2022:
Related: 2023 MLS schedule: when does the regular season start?
Does the NFL, MLB or NHL play on Christmas Day?
The simplest answer to this question is “no”. That said, you’ll get some football action from time to time if the 25th falls on a weekend, but even that doesn’t guarantee it. MLS is in its off season so there’s no need for mittens when the party stockings are out, while the National Hockey League plans a three-day Christmas break (since 1971) in which no regular season game is played on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.