The National Basketball Association prepares for its 78th annual Christmas Day spectacle in 2025, featuring five highly anticipated matchups broadcast across ABC and ESPN. This year’s extensive coverage promises over 13 consecutive hours of elite basketball action, reaching fans in 215 countries and territories and translated into more than 50 languages. The traditional holiday event underscores the NBA’s global appeal and its enduring place in the festive calendar.
The day’s festivities commence with a historic clash between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, marking their first-ever Christmas Day encounter. The Knicks are set to host their 50th Christmas home game, extending their record for most appearances on the holiday to 58. Key players Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson, both top-10 scorers this season, lead their respective teams into a competitive showdown, with Cleveland making its first Christmas appearance since 2017.
Following this, the San Antonio Spurs face the Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup imbued with recent rivalry, as San Antonio recently ended OKC’s impressive 16-game winning streak in the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals. The game features the dynamic Victor Wembanyama, who impressed with 42 points and 18 rebounds in his Christmas debut last year. Reigning Kia NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will make his much-anticipated first Christmas Day appearance, adding significant star power to the contest.
A blockbuster showdown between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors is also on the schedule. This game is particularly notable as Cooper Flagg is slated to become the youngest player to participate on Christmas Day since LeBron James in 2003, highlighting a generational talent’s early impact. Veteran Stephen Curry, who tied a Christmas record with eight three-pointers and scored 38 points in 2024, will lead the Warriors, while Klay Thompson makes his sole regular-season visit to San Francisco.
Later in the evening, the Houston Rockets will challenge the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the Rockets’ first Christmas Day game since 2019. This contest features a highly anticipated reunion between Kevin Durant and LeBron James, who last met on December 25th in 2018. Adding intrigue, Luka Dončić will make his Christmas Day debut as a Laker, alongside Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson of the Rockets, who are also set for their first holiday appearances.
The night concludes with a Western Conference rivalry as the Minnesota Timberwolves meet the Denver Nuggets, a first-time Christmas Day matchup between the two teams. Their recent playoff history includes splitting intense series in both 2023 and 2024, promising another fiercely contested game. Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are making their sixth Christmas appearance in seven years, while Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 points in his debut last year, looks to build on that performance.
Several prominent players are scheduled to make their Christmas Day debuts in 2025, underscoring a shift in the league’s star power. These include reigning Kia NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, along with Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets. The Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley, also a 2025 NBA All-Star, will unfortunately miss his potential debut due to a calf injury.
LeBron James continues to etch his name into Christmas Day lore, holding numerous career records. He leads all players in points with 507, games played with 19, field goals made with 180, and is tied with James Harden for three-pointers made with 31. James also boasts the most victories with 11. He ranks second in assists with 137, just eight shy of Oscar Robertson’s 145, and is second in steals with 28, two behind Russell Westbrook’s 30.
Beyond James, other legendary figures dominate the Christmas Day record books. Bill Russell holds the career record for rebounds with 176, while Shaquille O’Neal leads in blocked shots with 25. Oscar Robertson also holds the record for free throws made with 125. Notably, Tracy McGrady maintains the highest career scoring average on Christmas Day, an astounding 43.3 points per game, having scored at least 40 points in each of his three holiday appearances.
Historic single-game performances also define the Christmas Day tradition. Bernard King set the record with 60 points for the New York Knicks against the New Jersey Nets in 1984. Other notable single-game leaders include Wilt Chamberlain’s 36 rebounds in 1961, Guy Rodgers and Nate “Tiny” Archibald’s 18 assists, DeAndre Jordan’s eight blocked shots, and Kyrie Irving’s seven steals. Luka Dončić joined an elite group in 2023 by scoring 50 points, becoming only the fourth player to reach that mark, alongside King, Chamberlain, and Rick Barry.
Team milestones further enrich the Christmas Day narrative. The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are tied for the most team victories, each with 25. The Miami Heat boasts the highest winning percentage among active teams at .857, holding a 12-2 record and an impressive current nine-game winning streak. Under head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Heat remains unbeaten on Christmas Day, with a flawless 9-0 record.
The esteemed list of players who have recorded a triple-double on Christmas Day includes Oscar Robertson, who achieved the feat four times, along with John Havlicek, Billy Cunningham, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook (twice), Draymond Green, Kemba Walker, James Harden, Nikola Jokić, and Austin Reaves. In coaching achievements, Phil Jackson and Jack Ramsay share the record for most Christmas Day victories, each securing 11 wins. This extensive history solidifies Christmas Day as a cornerstone of the NBA season, blending contemporary rivalries with a rich tapestry of legendary performances.
