LeBron James had a clear message for the NFL as it continued to schedule games on Christmas Day: basketball still owns the holiday.
“This is still the NBA’s day,” James asserted after leading his Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling victory over the Golden State Warriors in one of the most memorable Christmas Day games of the season.
Since 1947, Christmas has been synonymous with NBA action, featuring marquee matchups throughout the day. However, the NFL has steadily encroached on the holiday, beginning with a single game in 2020 and expanding to two high-profile contests this year. Netflix even paid a reported $240 million to secure the exclusive streaming rights to the NFL’s holiday games, according to the New York Post.
A Christmas Classic for the NBA
This year’s NBA slate delivered intense action, highlighted by the Lakers-Warriors showdown. Steph Curry hit a clutch three-pointer with 7.1 seconds left to tie the game, only for Austin Reaves to seal the victory for the Lakers with a dramatic layup with just one second remaining.
The NBA didn’t stop there. All three of the earlier games on the holiday slate were decided by six points or fewer, including the New York Knicks’ 117-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a back-and-forth thriller.
NFL Falls Flat
In contrast, the NFL’s Christmas matchups were largely one-sided affairs. The Kansas City Chiefs cruised to a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the Baltimore Ravens dismantled the Houston Texans 31-2. Despite the league’s growing presence on Christmas, its games lacked the drama and competitive edge that the NBA consistently delivers on the holiday.
LeBron Doubles Down
After the Lakers’ win, James didn’t hold back. Speaking to ESPN, he declared, “I love the NFL. I love football. But Christmas is our day.”
His comments came just a day after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones advocated for the NFL’s continued presence on Christmas, no matter the day of the week. “Christmas Day is Christmas Day, and it doesn’t wait around for what day it’s on. We want to be there on Christmas Day,” Jones said during a radio interview.
Pushback from NFL Veterans
Not everyone in the NFL shares Jones’ enthusiasm for Christmas games. Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger criticized the league for prioritizing profits over player welfare.
“It’s miserable,” Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast. “It just shows that it’s all about money. Playing on a short week is brutal, and this is just another way for the league to cash in.”
The Battle for Christmas
Whether the NBA and NFL will continue to clash over Christmas viewership remains to be seen. However, based on this year’s action, the NBA clearly delivered the more compelling slate of games. As James and his Lakers shone in the holiday spotlight, basketball reaffirmed its place as the sport of choice for fans on December 25.
