History, Schedule, Top Performances, where to watch
The NBA and Christmas go together like ugly Christmas sweaters and egg nog. It’s a tradition we have come to love and anticipate.
But when did it start? And who is playing this season? Here is everything you need to know about the NBA on Christmas Day.
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How long has the NBA been playing on Christmas Day?
Monday will mark the 76th year the NBA has played on Christmas, a tradition that dates back to 1947, a couple of years after the end of World War II.
That year, the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers 89-75, the Washington Capitals knocked off the St. Louis Bombers 73-56 and the Baltimore Bullets topped the Chicago Stags 87-70.
What NBA teams have never played on Christmas Day?
Only one: The Charlotte Hornets. It’s a lonely distinction.
Who holds the record for most points scored on Christmas Day?
Bernard King.
The Brooklyn-born Knicks legend dropped 60 points on the New Jersey Nets on Christmas Day in 1984, leading New York to a 120-114 win. King went on to lead the NBA in scoring that season at 32.9 points a game, and when we talk about the greatest scorers the game has ever seen, King too often gets overlooked. The man was a bucket.
Tracy McGrady should get a special mention here: He played in three Christmas Day games in his career and scored 40 or more points in each (a 43.3 career Christmas Day scoring average, the highest ever).
Other Christmas Day single-game record holders include:
• Rebounds: Wilt Chamberlain (36 in 1961)
• Assists: Guy Rodgers (1966) and Nate “Tiny” Archibald (1972) with 18
• Blocked shots: DeAndre Jordan (eight in 2011)
• Steals: Kyrie Irving (seven in 2016)
LeBron James is a Christmas Day NBA legend
LeBron James is used to spending his Christmas Day on the hardwood.
This year marks the 18th time LeBron will play on Christmas Day, and yes, that is a record. LeBron also has the record for total points scored on Christmas Day (460 and counting) and is currently tied with his former teammate
