• NBA stars and coaches describe the love-hate feeling of playing on Christmas Day.
• LeBron and Bronny James juggle family traditions with marquee games.
• Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers recall unforgettable Christmas moments and blunders.
• Warriors play their 13th straight Christmas; check the NBA schedule today for matchups.
H2: Holiday hardwood — why Christmas still matters
Christmas Day remains the NBA’s showcase, a day when players balance family traditions with prime-time duty. For veterans and coaches, the holiday brings unique memories — some warm, some cringe-worthy — and a reminder of the league’s reach.
H3: A James family Christmas
Bronny James says the family has long adapted to LeBron’s Christmas commitments. The younger James recalled opening presents early when his father was home or rearranging festivities when he wasn’t. Last year the moment turned historic: LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son teammates to share a Christmas Day court, as LeBron posted a 31-point, 10-assist performance against Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
“You just try to hope that game was home so we could have him home for Christmas,” Bronny told reporters. The family keeps traditions — Zhuri often gets everyone up early — but the trade-offs are real. “Every family wants to be together on Christmas,” Bronny said. “We made it happen.”
H3: Kerr’s Christmas nightmare and Doc Rivers’ memories
Steve Kerr still winces at a Dec. 25, 1994 full-court inbounds that led to an overtime 3 by Hubert Davis — a gaffe Kerr calls the biggest mistake of his career. Doc Rivers, who’s played or coached on Christmas 17 times since 1984, describes the day as a “love-hate” experience: priceless to win, tough to miss time with family.
Rivers even mixed up which game a famous Celtics-Lakers moment happened in, underscoring how holiday games and nearby December matchups can blur in memory. For many, the thrill of performing on the league’s busiest national stage offsets the sacrifices.
H3: Curry’s mixed history on Dec. 25
Stephen Curry has been a Christmas regular for Golden State, which will appear on the holiday for a 13th straight season when it hosts the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. Curry admits he hasn’t always shot well on the day — early struggles included a rough stretch in his first eight Christmas games — but he respects the platform. “It’s a blessing,” he said. “You understand being one of the 10 teams that play means you’re marketable.”
H2: How teams handle Christmas logistics
Teams try to create a festive feel: family members often travel with road squads, and the league gives coaches and players gifts (leather wallets, bags, electronics). Still, schedules can force families to adjust gift times or celebrate a day early.
H2: Where to watch and nba schedule today
If you’re checking the nba schedule today, Christmas Day typically features marquee matchups and national broadcasts. This year’s holiday slate includes Warriors vs. Mavericks at Chase Center and possible Lakers appearances with the James family in the mix. For highlights and video: watch the ESPN clip referenced here — https://www.espn.com/watch/play/_/id/39649991 — and follow reporter Ohm Youngmisuk on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM.
Christmas in the NBA remains a blend of tradition, spectacle and sacrifice — a day when the sport’s biggest names pause between presents to play on a stage millions tune in to watch.
Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47390566/nba-christmas-2025-stories-bronny-lebron-james-stephen-curry-draymond-green-more
