The NBA has historically used Christmas Day to showcase its top players and teams in nationally broadcast games, while the majority of other major sports leagues took the day off.
The number of NFL games held on the holiday has been increasing. Three games—Cowboys vs Commanders, Lions vs. Vikings, and Broncos vs. Chiefs—will take place on Thursday.
During Thursday’s NBA pregame program on ESPN, Charles Barkley expressed his disapproval of the NFL’s decision.
Barkley stated:
“The NFL got greedy and started adding Christmas games. We used to have this day to ourself, but Roger Goodell and them pigs at the NFL always want to hog every day of the week now,”
“Christmas is an NBA day.”
Today’s five NBA games begin with the Cavaliers against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden at 12:00 ET.
Today’s NBA schedule consists of five games, with the Cavaliers playing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden at noon ET and the Timberwolves playing the Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. ET, LeBron James and the Lakers will play as they host Kevin Durant and the Rockets.
Since 2020, the NFL has played at least one game on Christmas. Despite the holiday falling on a Wednesday, they had three games last year.
When the NFL schedule was first released, it seemed much better, but now several teams—including the Chiefs—will not be participating in the postseason.
