The NBA’s Christmas Game has been a tradition since 1947 and continues to feature the league’s biggest teams and superstars.
Teams and players will have the opportunity to make a name for themselves as the world watches in five key matchups this year.
To help you preview the schedule, we spoke with former NBA player and Miami Heat champion Jason Williams to find out what excites him about the Christmas schedule…
Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks
5 p.m., Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+
Christmas begins in New York City, home to many festive films. There, the Knicks welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to Madison Square Garden. The iconic Christmas location features two of the Eastern Conference’s strongest teams.
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Highlights from the NBA Cup Finals as the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win their first championship since 1973
The Knicks look new after recently lifting the NBA Cup following an impressive win over the San Antonio Spurs. While Jalen Brunson is viewed as the team’s central figure, London-born forward OG Anunoby is quietly building a case for his first All-Star selection.
Anunoby was the leading scorer in the Cup final and, according to Williams, is doing all the right things to earn his place at All-Star Weekend. When Anunoby asked what more needed to be done, Williams’ advice was simple. “If we keep winning and getting wins, the All-Star selections will be dealt with when they need to be dealt with.”
New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby is having a good season =
Meanwhile, the Cavs were the best regular season team in the Eastern Conference last season, going 61-21, but have struggled to regain that form since.
Donovan Mitchell, still exuding superstar confidence, spoke candidly about his team’s below-average performance.
The Knicks have played in more Christmas games than any other NBA team, and a festive win over the Cavs this year and a win in the NBA Cup Finals could give them the perfect platform to advance to their first championship since 1973.
San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder
7:30 p.m., Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+
The second match of the day features the first superstar showdown. Last year’s MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, took on a high challenge from 21-year-old 7-foot-5 center Victor Wembanyama as the Thunder welcomed the Spurs to Oklahoma City.
When asked what has Williams excited about this season so far, he said, “I’m really excited about the parity. I feel like I’m a step above everyone else except OKC.”
Last year’s NBA champion Thunder picked up where they left off and, as of this writing, have lost just two games with the best record in the league.
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Watch Victor Wembayama’s best performance of 40 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ season opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
Williams was clear in his praise for Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama, two of the team’s top stars.
“They are both special and unique,” he said. “To be honest, I didn’t think Wemby would be as good as he was. I thought it would take him a few years and he would develop a little more slowly than he does now, but oh my god, I was wrong!”
Regarding Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams added: “Shai is just… I mean, he’s just speechless. As soon as he thinks he’s as good as he can be, he takes it to the next level and takes his team to another level.”
The stakes for this game got even higher after the Spurs eliminated OKC from the NBA Cup earlier this month. Featuring two of the league’s best teams and two of its best individual players, Spurs vs. Thunder is a guaranteed Christmas cracker.
Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors
10 p.m., Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+
Stephen Curry’s style of play has captured the imagination of basketball fans around the world. Curry, who celebrates his 38th birthday in March,’s evergreen talent will be matched against the abilities of this year’s top draft pick, 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, a player nearly 20 years older than him.
In late November, Flagg broke the NBA record for most points by an 18-year-old by scoring 42 points against the Utah Jazz. Due to injuries to several key teammates, Flagg’s continued improvements on the court throughout his rookie season led to him developing into an offensive anchor for the Mavericks.
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Cooper Flagg scored 42 points in a win over the Utah Jazz, becoming the highest-scoring 18-year-old in NBA history.
Another interesting aspect of this game is that Curry is reunited with former teammate Klay Thompson. The “Splash Brothers” won four championships and set numerous scoring records during their 12 years together.
Two of the best 3-point shooters to ever play the game, their identities as players are so intertwined that it still seems strange to see them on opposing teams almost two years after Klay left the Warriors.
Curry received high praise from Williams, who also played as a point guard for 12 years in the NBA. “The way he can play basketball, I think he could play until he’s 60 if he wanted to. He could stand in the corner all day and play defensively, and if his man left him, his 3-point shooting would fall apart.”
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Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry hit this shot off the court, creating a hilarious scene!
“If he chooses to play that long, he can. I think he’s probably the best point guard to ever play in the game. Definitely the best shooter I’ve ever seen.”
“I feel very fortunate as an NBA fan and as a sports fan to have the opportunity to see these players, and Steph Wardell Curry is definitely one of them.”
Houston Rockets @ LA Lakers
Friday, December 26, 1am, Sky Sports+
One of the most spectacular games on the Christmas schedule sees LeBron James’ Lakers take on Kevin Durant’s energetic Rockets team. Now 40 and 37 years old respectively, this matchup promises to be a fierce contest between teams led by two of the league’s veteran superstars.
Like Stephen Curry, Durant’s elite shooting touch and a style of play that focuses on technical ability over athleticism helped extend his prime into his 30s. That’s not to say KD doesn’t have a great all-around game. Earlier this month, he became the second-fastest player to reach 30,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists, behind Michael Jordan and LeBron.
While Williams had high praise for KD, he also highlighted the Rockets’ talented Turkish center Alperen Şengün as someone to watch.
“I’m a huge fan of KD. I think you could put him on any roster in the NBA and he would immediately be a playoff contender. But I don’t think Şengün is being talked about as much as he should be. He’s quietly going about his business and doing what he needs to do. e’s a great player.”
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LeBron combined with Rui Hachimura for the game-winner as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Toronto Raptors in the superstar’s 23rd NBA season.
On the other side of the court, the Lakers are hoping Luka Doncic recovers from his injury in time to team up with LeBron, who is set to play in his 20th Christmas Day game, an NBA record. LeBron is set to turn 41 before the end of December, and when asked what his remaining goals are, Williams responded, “What’s left for him? He’s already done everything else, so I think winning a championship is everything.”
LeBron’s retirement may have once seemed impossible, but it’s quickly becoming a reality. Williams is full of praise for James and believes he doesn’t always get the praise he deserves.
“As fans, we take LeBron James’ career for granted. We expect him to score 25 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists every night. I think he should have won a few more MVPs, but they weren’t given to him because it was someone else’s turn. That doesn’t mean the next guy doesn’t deserve it, but I take LeBron James for granted.”
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, December 26, 3.30am, Sky Sports+
In the final game of the NBA’s Christmas schedule, those who stay up until the early hours of Boxing Day morning will get to see a showdown between one of the league’s emerging rivals as the Denver Nuggets take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is a three-time MVP.
Like this morning’s Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Wembanyama matchup, this game also features two of the NBA’s brightest talents right now, Nikola Jokić and Anthony Edwards. “Jokic is one of the best players in the NBA, if not the best, and Edwards is right behind him. He’s trying to take that crown away from him,” Williams said.
For the Nuggets, Jokić is a three-time MVP winner who is ranked as the best passing center of all time for his on-ball talent. In a sport that prioritizes physical ability, Jokic stands apart, his style defined by his elite basketball IQ and court vision.
In early December, “Joker” broke the record for most assists by a center in NBA history, surpassing the 35-year-old record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. What’s even more impressive is that he achieved the feat in 789 games, a testament to his unique talent.
In contrast to Jokić, Edwards’ style is based on a tenacious approach to the game, which emphasizes high-flying and explosive athleticism.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves has developed into an elite long-distance player.
Equally determined off the court despite early draft concerns about his range, Edwards developed into an elite long-range shooter, leading the NBA in 3-pointers during the 24-25 season and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 3-pointers.
How Edwards, who is under contract with the Timberwolves through 2029, develops will likely determine their future.
With both teams eliminated from the 2023 and 2024 postseasons, the Nuggets-Timberwolves rivalry remains one of the most hotly anticipated matchups in the NBA.
The blockbuster Christmas schedule concludes with one of the highlights of the evening.
