In the pantheon of festive traditions, the NBA holds a coveted place with its Christmas Day spectacle, this year unfurling the 76th portfolio of hardwood classics and maintaining its 16th consecutive annual tradition of quintuple thrillers.
Under the glimmer of festive lights, two of the most storied franchises in NBA history – the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics – reignite their yuletide rivalry, a scene awaiting its revival since their 2008 encounter.
Gracing the courts are five maestros who have once claimed the league’s highest individual honor: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. The narratives thicken as the four preceding champions, namely the Lakers from 2020, Milwaukee Bucks from 2021, Golden State Warriors from 2022 and the current year’s Denver Nuggets, add to the Christmas Day allure.
The tapestry of Christmas Day numbers is rich with history.
**55**: The New York Knicks boast the record for most festive fixtures, stepping into their 56th game with a record forged from 23 wins and 32 losses. Their inaugural Christmas Day performance dates back to 1947, overcoming the Providence Steamrollers. Yet, in more recent seasons since 2010, their Christmas victory tally stands at a modest three from eight showings.
**24**: The Lakers, while second in seasonal appearances, lead the pack with the most victories of any team. Their holiday presence launched in 1949 and they have been a constant feature for the past quarter-century. Nonetheless, their recent form presents a humbler image, with Christmas cheer in the form of victories arriving only eight times in their last 25 December 25th outings.
**31.3**: Philedelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid stands tall, even in his absence due to an ankle setback, boasting the loftiest point per game average among his active peers on Christmas, a remarkable 31.3. Likewise, Embiid’s seasonal showcase has been compelling, accumulating 850 points, 250 boards, and 150 assists in just 25 games – a feat unmatched through such a campaign’s opening act. In this month alone, his scoring crescendo averages an astounding 40 points at a 60% efficiency, a chorus only echoed in the past by legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.
**60**: Since 1984, Bernard King remains unchallenged atop the Christmas Day scoring summit, his 60-point masterpiece woven into the fabric of the holiday histories. Wilt Chamberlain, with 59 points in 1961, and Rick Barry’s half-century score in 1966, are the only ones who come close. In this century, Tracy McGrady reigns supreme with a 46-point exploit in 2002, alongside the highest career Christmas Day scoring average of 43.3 across three games.
**460**: LeBron James, an emblem of longevity and brilliance, has amassed the greatest total points on Christmas Day in his record 17 appearances, a testament to his enduring greatness. On this day, he shares the lead in wins (10) with Dwyane Wade, trails only Oscar Robertson in assists (119 to 145), Russell Westbrook in steals (26 to 29), and James Harden in 3-point field goals (28 to 31).
**Eight**: Amidst the echoes of bouncing balls and the roar of the crowd, one team holds the longest active winning streak on Christmas Day. The Miami Heat, with their last yuletide defeat receding into 2007, and their coach Erik Spoelstra boasting an unmatched 8-0 record, set a benchmark for victory without a single loss by an NBA head coach.
