Picture this: While most families are gathered around the tree, unwrapping gifts and savoring holiday feasts, NBA superstars are battling it out on court for our entertainment. It's a thrilling yet heart-wrenching tradition that splits loyalties between home and hoop dreams. But here's where it gets controversial – is sacrificing family time for fame worth the festive spotlight? Let's dive into the heartfelt stories from players and coaches who've lived it, and you'll see why this annual spectacle stirs such passion among fans and pros alike.
For Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, memories of Christmas Day NBA matchups are a hazy mix of excitement and nostalgia, stretching back to 1984 when he either played or coached in a whopping 17 of these special games. In a chat with ESPN, Rivers reminisced about his fondest moments, often circling back to the legendary rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. He shared a classic tale: As the Celtics' former head coach, he once collected $100 from each member of the team's traveling party during a road trip and hid it in the ceiling of the visitors' locker room at the Lakers' arena. This motivational stunt happened after a regular-season game in February 2010, and the Celtics reclaimed the cash during that year's NBA Finals. Rivers also wondered if the memorable instance where Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson's Lakers sported retro short shorts against his Celtics occurred on Christmas – though it was actually on December 30, 2007, close enough to feel like holiday magic. The two teams did clash on Christmas in 2008, adding to the confusion.
What Rivers recalls vividly is the bittersweet tug-of-war of holiday play. 'I've participated in countless Christmas games,' he explained to ESPN. 'It's unlike any other day – I adore it yet dread it simultaneously, because spending time with family holds immense value. Yet, there's nothing quite like the thrill of victory on Christmas afternoon. Finishing that game with a win and then reuniting with your loved ones... it's simply unforgettable. I've cherished some truly remarkable ones.'
The ten teams slated for Christmas action must weave their family traditions into the chaos of game day, whether at home or on the road. For instance, the Golden State Warriors, set to play their 13th straight holiday game against the Dallas Mavericks, often bring family along for road trips. Meanwhile, LeBron James and his son Bronny James – who get to share the court again this Christmas with the Lakers – still navigate family celebrations around their schedule. To soften the blow, the NBA showers coaches and players with thoughtful gifts, like luxurious leather wallets, stylish bags, or tech gadgets, trying to infuse some cheer into the occasion.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr described the surreal experience to ESPN: 'You rise in your hotel room, say Room 736, and momentarily forget it's Christmas. Then a message from Eric Hausen, our vice president of team operations, pops up: 'Merry Christmas.' Suddenly, it hits you. You head to a meeting in the third-floor ballroom, exchange greetings with everyone, dive into the scouting report – it's all so strange. At the arena, there's a lovely present from NBA commissioner Adam Silver. You play, and the crowd is buzzing with holiday joy, fresh from their own mornings, while you're longing for your family. But that's the commitment we make.'
Players and coaches echo Kerr and Rivers, agreeing it's an honor to perform on this grand stage. Still, especially away from home, it can evoke the Grinch's sour mood. Rivers noted, 'If it's an afternoon tilt, we host a big dinner afterward. But for the evening slot, it's a downright awful day, twiddling your thumbs at home before heading out to compete.'
As the holiday nears, these athletes open up to ESPN about their Christmas yarns, emotions, and even frustrations with Santa's schedule. And this is the part most people miss – behind the glory, there's a human cost that begs the question: Does the magic of the game justify the family sacrifices? Let's explore some personal tales that highlight this delicate balance.
Bronny James, at 21, can't pinpoint a time he wasn't watching his dad, LeBron, dominate on Christmas. Much like Bronny, an entire generation has grown up glued to the screen for LeBron's record 19 Christmas appearances since his 2003 rookie year – 18 of them in a row. This means the James clan has regularly shared their beloved patriarch with the world on the holiday. 'We'd hope for a home game so Dad could join us,' Bronny shared with ESPN. 'But we'd always return to our house for morning gift-opening. If he wasn't there, we'd shift it to the day before or wait. It's been a fifty-fifty gamble, yet we strive to celebrate on the 25th whenever possible.'
Last year was epic: The father-son pair became the first to team up on Christmas, though Bronny sat out. He watched LeBron eclipse Stephen Curry and the Warriors with a spectacular stat line – 31 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. 'I'd prefer lounging at home with family,' LeBron admitted recently. 'But basketball is my passion, the sport I adored watching as a kid on Christmas, featuring the all-time greats. Playing here has always been a privilege. Honestly, I'd love to relax on the couch with my family all day, but duty calls – we step up and deliver.'
No matter the date, it's Zhuri, the youngest daughter, who kicks off the James family festivities. 'Zhuri's downstairs by 6 a.m., impatiently eyeing the presents,' Bronny laughed. 'We join her an hour later, and she's ticked we're late.' LeBron leads all players with 507 Christmas points, ranks second in assists with 137, and fifth in rebounds at 143, but it means rearranging family joy around the games. 'I wasn't overly upset,' Bronny said. 'I understood the reason, and we'd always find a way to celebrate once he returned. Still, every family craves togetherness on Christmas – it posed challenges, particularly for my mom Savannah, who had to orchestrate alternate plans. My siblings and her stay united, but adding this layer means extra stress that most folks don't face. We powered through, though.'
When LeBron eventually hangs up his sneakers, Bronny might face the same dilemma. 'Soon, I could be the absent one, with them home,' he reflected. 'We'll need to sort it out.'
Decades ago, a Christmas blunder still haunts Steve Kerr, one of the worst endings to a New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls clash. On December 25, 1994, in Chicago, with 3.3 seconds ticking down and the Bulls ahead 100-97, Anthony Mason's desperate full-court inbounds pass found Kerr near the basket. The Bulls sharpshooter leaped to catch it but feared a traveling call if he tumbled, so he awkwardly tapped it to a teammate – right into Knicks guard Hubert Davis' hands for a game-tying three-pointer, forcing overtime. 'It was the dumbest error of my career,' Kerr confessed to ESPN, still reeling after all these years. 'A colossal goof.'
Thankfully, Scottie Pippen bailed him out with a heroic overtime display: 7 points for Chicago, plus two crucial blocks to seal a 107-104 victory. Pippen, who tallied 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 steals in all 53 minutes, embraced the remorseful Kerr post-game. Michael Jordan, who returned from retirement that season, might have been less kind. 'I'd have been the goat – the bad kind,' Kerr said. 'It panned out, but it was mortifying. Why did I do that? Now, every Christmas, NBA TV reruns that clip, and I'm like, 'Enough already!'' Kerr played in five holiday games total.
For Stephen Curry, Christmas meant watching hoops as a kid, so suiting up felt momentous. 'It's a privilege, signaling your team's prominence,' he told ESPN. 'The atmosphere was electric – before the in-season tournament, this was the NBA's pinnacle event heading into the new year.' The Warriors are marking their 13th straight Christmas game, with Curry missing just two. Yet, his early holiday performances were rough: Over his first eight games, he shot 35-for-116 (29.3%), including 10-for-49 from deep (20.4%). In his initial two outings, he missed 23 of 27 attempts. 'No standout favorites for me,' Curry noted. 'I've historically struggled on Christmas, so great recollections are scarce.'
Draymond Green cherishes one Christmas memory from his 2023 suspension for striking Jusuf Nurkic. Frustrated and contemplating retirement, he rediscovered his love for the game. Missing 12 games, Green enjoyed a genuine family Christmas at home – a soul-soothing respite. 'It was fantastic,' he shared with ESPN. 'Normally, it's odd, not matching childhood family days. We've traveled five times, including that suspension year. My 5-year-old's first Christmas? I was away.'
Instead of suiting up in Denver, Green unwrapped gifts with his kids. He only sat out another Christmas in 2020 due to a foot injury, watching from the bench in Milwaukee. When playing, he might let his children peek at one gift early, saving full festivities for his return. Despite being one of ten players with a Christmas triple-double (a rare feat where a player gets double digits in three of points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks), Green finds holiday play draining. 'As a pro, you crave the spotlight – big games, global eyes. But personally, it stinks. I loved viewing Kobe and the Lakers' white jerseys growing up, admiring Shaq too. Now the NFL is encroaching on Christmas – maybe they should take over, and we go home.'
For Josh Hart, an early noon tip-off on Christmas suits his family life perfectly, especially with two young sons at 2.5 years old. 'Now, Christmas holds magic,' he said to ESPN. 'The noon start lets us handle game prep in the morning, then celebrate post-win.' This is his seventh holiday game, spanning stints with the Lakers, Pelicans, and Knicks. His highlight? The 2018 Lakers' 127-101 rout of the Warriors, LeBron's first L.A. Christmas despite a groin tweak. Rajon Rondo shone with 15 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds off the bench. 'We bested that loaded Warriors squad: Steph, Klay, KD, Draymond,' Hart recalled. 'LeBron injured, Rondo became playoff-mode Rondo, guiding us. He even cracked a finger, and I gifted him a 2009 Harlan Estate wine he uncorked on the flight – that's how I got into vino.'
The next year, traded to New Orleans, Hart, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram starred for the Pelicans in the late-night game against the Nuggets. They won 112-100 but lingered in Denver overnight, skipping a midnight flight for rest. Families flew in, and a hotel party preceded the game, but Hart and teammates longed for a private jet home. 'That 8:30 p.m. Denver affair was the season's toughest,' said Hart, now 4-2 on Christmas. 'We schemed for a 'PJ' – private jet – return. Instead, we stayed; it was miserable.'
Donovan Mitchell hasn't laced up for Christmas in four years, but his 2021 Jazz Christmas – 33 points against Jalen Brunson's 27 in a 120-116 win over the Mavericks – remains vivid. Now, with the Cavaliers facing Brunson's Knicks at Madison Square Garden as the day's opener, Mitchell is pumped. 'I adore Christmas games,' he told ESPN excitedly. 'It shows you're excelling as a team! I recall rising at noon at Grandma's, glued to hoops all day. Being part of it is extraordinary.'
For his first two Jazz holidays, Mitchell kept routines normal, celebrating before or after. This year, with the early start and home in the New York area, he'll open gifts afterward. A Connecticut native, playing at the Garden fulfills a dream. 'I never take it for granted,' he said. 'Not everyone plays Christmas Day, especially at MSG. It'll be magical.'
ESPN's Jamal Collier and Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
So, what's your take? Does the NBA's Christmas tradition honor the game's spirit, or does it unfairly demand too much from athletes and their families? Is Draymond's idea of letting the NFL take over a bold solution, or just Grinchy grumbling? Share your opinions below – do you side with the thrill of the court or the warmth of the hearth? Let's discuss!
