December 25 is not a day like any other for the NBA. Since 1947, a year after the creation of the league, American professional basketball has been coming into homes at Christmas. Like English Boxing Day for football, NBA Christmas Day has become an unmissable event. It was intended as a celebration of the game and its stars. Each year, the league puts together a program calibrated to attract global attention, with several posters spread throughout the day.
The biggest stars
The 2025 edition is no exception. The courts welcome some of the major figures of the championship, from the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Nikola Jokic, including Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama. Being scheduled for Christmas is seen as a form of sporting recognition. This particular exposure often pushes players to deliver memorable performances, sometimes etching their name in the history of that day. This is what Bernard King, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James did in previous editions.
Personal sacrifices
But behind the prestige, the reality is more nuanced for the actors concerned. Playing on Christmas Day means giving up a time traditionally reserved for the family sphere. Some players, like LeBron James, record holder for Christmas Day appearances, have already highlighted this dilemma which is also shared by a large part of the NBA locker room. The North American league remains one of the few professional competitions to organize an event of such magnitude on such a symbolic holiday.
But NBA Christmas Day is above all a showcase. The audiences bear this out: in 2024, the average exceeded 5.5 million viewers, a figure higher than that of many playoff matches. If the Finals remain above, Christmas remains a major strategic lever. At the same time, the commercial dimension is assumed, between advertising campaigns, derivative products and a significant increase in ticket prices, particularly in emblematic markets such as New York or Oklahoma City. A day where sport, entertainment and business move hand in hand.
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