The NBA on Christmas Day features everything from superstars and sometimes holiday-spirited jerseys (please, Adam Silver, bring them back) to premium franchises competing against each other. Even though this year’s holidays are months away, looking ahead is still fun, and so is ranking which games are the top matchups for the day.
NBA Christmas Game Slate Packs A Punch With Superstar Power
NBA Christmas Games: The Best Of Recent Years
The Christmas holidays have brought many of us cheer and memories—they have also showcased some fantastic, adrenalin-filled NBA matchups that, for NBA fanatics, just make Christmas Day all that more enjoyable.
In 2013, the Golden State Warriors won by a slim two points over the LA Clippers. Five years later brought us a battle between East rivals, the Boston Celtics (the winners), and the Philadelphia 76ers. In a low-scoring matchup, it was LeBron James vs Steph Curry in 2015, where the Warriors came out on top. Two years later, the Cavaliers and Warriors went at it again, and the Warriors won. More recently, the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns engaged in a fiery back-and-forth in the desert; Nicola Jokic’s 41 points propelled the Nuggets to victory that day.
Yes, there have been several memorable and exciting holiday matchups in recent years, and the upcoming Christmas season aims to offer more. Here is the slate of games, based on where they rank on the day from best to last.
Game 1: San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks
Rank: #5
Last season’s rookie and Olympic silver medalist Victor Wembanyama will play his first of what will most definitely be many NBA Christmas Day games. Jalen Brunson and the rest of his Villanova college squad are on the other side. These two teams duking it out in what might be the most fantastic city in the world to spend the Christmas holidays—NYC—should be one fine game to watch.
Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks
Rank: #4
The Mavericks are no stranger to the holiday classic, but one new and exciting feature will be their new offseason acquisition: Klay Thompson. Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Luka Doncic all raining down threes together—what a gift. As for the other side, Anthony Edwards knows he’s better than all of them; maybe he’ll be the one to bring the rain.
Game 3: Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics
Rank: #2
The Celtics and 76ers will re-renew their historic rivalry in a classic NBA battle. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will probably still be mad two-and-a-half months into the season, and Joel Embiid will hopefully be healthy enough to compete. This isn’t the first time these two teams have met for an NBA Christmas Day title. Again, Mr. Silver, let the Celtics wear their 2015 green and cream-lettered holiday jerseys!
Game 4: Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors
Rank: #1
This game will be the greatest featured holiday game comprised of play-in teams, or worse, the NBA has ever scheduled. It’s also the best game on the day’s entire slate of games. LeBron and Steph: Yeah, that’s it.
Game 5: Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns
Rank: #3
In 2022, the desert brought forth the heat in a crazy back-and-forth NBA Christmas Day tilt between these two teams. This year, they’ll do it all over again, and again in the desert. This rematch features two of the game’s best, Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant. Where will either team sit in a cluttered west standings at that point; who’s to say? No matter, this matchup should be fantastic, nevertheless.
One Final Plea
Superstars, beautiful NBA cities, stacked teams, loud fans, and pure basketball joy all around—this upcoming Christmas Day will have some good ball games. And for the final time, we need holiday jerseys again. Bring. Them. Back.
