A Look at the NBA on Christmas Day

Christmas is a special day for many. Family and friends come together, good food is shared, and gifts are exchanged. But for some, their favorite event of the holiday season is watching the NBA on Christmas. Watching the world’s best basketball players compete on the grandest stage in sports is something that never gets old. Every year, we are treated to some of the best games, plays, and moments that the game has ever seen.

NBA on Christmas History

The NBA on Christmas has been a tradition since 1947 when the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in the first-ever Christmas Day game. Since then, the league has seen greats such as Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James take the floor on the holiday. Through the years, some of the biggest moments in NBA history have taken place on Christmas Day.

Modern NBA on Christmas

Today, the NBA's Christmas Day games are a highly anticipated event. The league schedules 5 marquee matchups each year that feature some of its biggest stars and teams. These games draw in millions of viewers around the world. With so much on the line, teams bring out their best performances in these marquee showdowns.

Notable NBA on Christmas Games

There have been some truly remarkable and memorable games throughout the years on Christmas Day. One of the most iconic was the 2009 matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This game will forever be remembered for the performance of Kobe Bryant who scored 61 points in the victory. Another classic was the 2016 game between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was the first meeting between the two teams in the regular season since the historic seven-game series in the 2015 NBA Finals. The game was one for the ages with Kyrie Irving hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Cavaliers the win.

Conclusion

The NBA on Christmas Day has created some of the most memorable moments in basketball history. It is a tradition that has been going on for over 70 years and shows no signs of slowing down. As we look forward to the next Christmas Day games, we can only imagine what exciting matchups and incredible moments we will witness.

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