TITLE: NBA figures recall the joy and strain of playing on Christmas Day
SLUG: nba-stars-reflect-on-christmas-day-games
CONTENT:
Since 1984, Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers has either played or coached on Dec. 25 a total of 17 times. Reflecting on the holiday slate, Rivers called the experience a “love-hate” proposition: cherished when his team wins, but difficult because family time is limited.
This year, 10 NBA clubs will again navigate family traditions around a national television showcase. Golden State will appear for the 13th consecutive Christmas, facing Dallas, while the Los Angeles Lakers’ father-and-son tandem of LeBron and Bronny James is set for a second straight holiday appearance.
Rivers’ blurry but memorable holidays
Rivers’ favorite Christmas stories center on the historic Celtics-Lakers rivalry. He once collected $100 from every Boston traveler and hid the cash in the ceiling of the visitors’ locker room at what was then Staples Center—though he now realizes that stunt happened during a February 2010 meeting, not on Dec. 25. He also recalled the Lakers donning throwback short shorts against his Celtics on Dec. 30, 2007, two days after Christmas. Boston and Los Angeles did meet on the holiday in 2008.
The James household’s annual adjustment
Bronny James, 21, grew up watching his father play a record 19 Christmas games dating to 2003. When the Lakers are on the road, the family sometimes delays opening gifts or celebrates the day before. “Every family wants to be together on Christmas,” Bronny said, noting wife Savannah handles most of the planning.
LeBron, now 40, owns the Christmas Day records for points (507), ranks second in assists (137) and fifth in rebounds (143). “I’d much rather be at home,” he acknowledged, “but my number’s called.”
Steve Kerr’s nightmare moment
Golden State coach Steve Kerr still winces at a 1994 mistake when he played for Chicago. With 3.3 seconds left and the Bulls up three, Kerr tried to tap away a full-court inbound pass, only to hand it to Knicks guard Hubert Davis, who tied the game with a three-pointer. Scottie Pippen bailed out the Bulls in overtime, but Kerr said the play remains “one of the biggest nightmares of my career.”
Curry and Green on mixed feelings
Stephen Curry remembers watching Christmas games as a child and views the assignment as “a blessing,” yet he struggled early. In his first eight appearances he shot 35-for-116 (29.3%) overall and 10-for-49 (20.4%) from three-point range.
Teammate Draymond Green calls the platform prestigious but admits it “f—-ing sucks” to be away from family. A 2023 league suspension allowed him to spend the entire day at home, which he described as “amazing.”
Hart’s preferred noon tip, Mitchell’s Garden dream
New York guard Josh Hart embraces the Knicks’ traditional noon start, calling it the perfect schedule for players with young children. His best memory is the Lakers’ 127-101 win over Golden State in 2018, when Rajon Rondo stepped in for an injured LeBron and led Los Angeles.
Donovan Mitchell last played on Christmas in 2021, scoring 33 for Utah against Dallas. This season, the Cleveland guard will face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in the day’s opener, fulfilling what he calls a childhood dream of playing at the arena on the holiday.
From league-issued gifts in visiting locker rooms to family members flying city to city, coaches and players agree: Christmas Day duty is an honor that comes with unique logistical headaches—but the memories, good and bad, tend to last a lifetime.
Source: ESPN
