Most people wake up Christmas morning and rush downstairs to see if Santa stopped by. They spend time with friends and family, opening gifts, having nice meals, and creating memories together. But for athletes in the NBA and NFL, this is often not the case. Christmas is another game day, and when these guys wake up on Christmas morning, they are getting ready to compete, giving all those at home a little extra entertainment for the fun-filled holiday.
The first NBA Christmas game was held in 1947, only one year after the league’s creation, and saw the New York Knicks take down the Providence Steamrollers, creating a tradition of Christmas basketball that continues annually. Although the NFL was, in fact, founded before the NBA in 1920, it did not introduce Christmas games until much later in 1971. The debut of Christmas NFL games was a double feature giving the spotlight to the Dallas Cowboys who beat the Minnesota Vikings 20-12, and the Miami Dolphins who beat the Kansas City Chiefs in double overtime 27-24 marking the longest-ever NFL game, a record that is still held today.
This Christmas, the NBA is featuring five different games, ensuring extra entertainment for the whole day. The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks first take the stage playing at 12:00 p.m., followed by the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m., the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors at 5:00 p.m., the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers at 8:00 p.m., and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. to finish the night.
The NFL is featuring less games than the NBA with just three, as football games are typically longer than basketball. However, because the NFL is farther along in its season than the NBA, these three games have higher stakes as every win matters in order to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The first game, between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders is taking place at 1:00 p.m. and it is a must-win game for the Cowboys as their current 6-6 record puts them on the bubble for making the playoffs. The next game at 4:30 p.m. is between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings and puts the Lions in a very similar position as the Cowboys as it is unclear whether their 8-5 record will be enough for playoff contention. Lastly, the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos at 8:15 p.m.. Winning this game is of the utmost importance for the Chiefs, also currently sitting at 6-6. However, unlike the Cowboys and Lions who are taking on opponents against whom they are favored, the Broncos boast a 10-2 record, the second best in the entire NFL.
Between the excitement and tension that are very much prevalent in both the NBA and NFL Christmas games this year, it isn’t surprising that many fans are looking forward to sitting down in front of their TVs after gifts. Despite the benefits that these games offer for families like spending time together cheering on a shared club, some may argue that these sports events, which happen all year round, are taking away from the values and traditions of Christmas. I imagine different families call for different circumstances. For some families, these games are a big tradition and they bring people closer together as bonds are made in the excitement of the games. On the other hand, some families desire the opportunity to have conversations with each other, face to face, removed from distractions and view Christmas as one of the rare occasions that people will be away from their phones.
Whether fans spend the day gathered around a table or a television, Christmas remains a time for connection — and for many, the games have simply become part of the tradition!