CHRISTMAS DAY GAME memories are a blur for Doc Rivers.
Since 1984, Rivers has played or coached on Christmas a total of 17 times.As he recounted two stories about his favorite Christmas moments, the Milwaukee Bucks head coach naturally turned to the Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers rivalry — but he wasn’t entirely sure whether one of the memories was actually on Christmas.
Rivers, the former Boston head coach, told one of his favorite tales: He famously collected $100 from every member of the Celtics’ traveling party on a road trip and stashed the money in the ceiling of the visitors locker room at the Lakers’ home arena. (Rivers’ legendary motivational tactic actually took place after a February regular-season game against the Lakers in 2010, and the Celtics returned to collect that money in the NBA Finals).
He also thought it was possible that the time kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson’s Lakers came out in retro short shorts against Rivers’ Celtics could’ve happened on Christmas. (It was on Dec.30, 2007, close enough to blend into Christmas). The Celtics and Lakers did play each other on the holiday in 2008.
What Rivers does remember in exact detail is the “love-hate” nature of playing on the holiday.
“I’ve had a lot of Christmas games,” rivers explained to ESPN. “It’s different. I love it and hate it at the same time because having time with your family, it’s so vital.
“But also, there’s nothing better. It’s the most favorite game to win. On a Christmas afternoon, when you finish that game and you win — you come home with your family. It’s just an
We do a huge dinner if it’s an afternoon game,” Rivers said. “If it’s the last game of the day, it’s just a s—ty day. As far as you spend time waiting around during the day at home and then you go to the game.”
As this Christmas approaches, stars and coaches share with ESPN their Christmas tales, yuletide feelings and even gripes about playing on Santa’s day.
Jump to a tale:
/id/47390566/nba-christmas-2025-stories-bronny-lebron-james-stephen-curry-draymond-green-more#PJ”>All I want for Christmas is a PJ
Mitchell’s Holiday Special
LeBron James holds the record for the most points (507), second-most assists (137), and fifth-most rebounds (143) on Christmas Day. However, this success has meant adjusting family Christmas celebrations around his game schedule.
Bronny james acknowledged the difficulty, stating, “I never really was bummed out too much. I mean, I was, kind of, but I knew why. So it wasn’t really a problem for me, and we always found a way to celebrate it somehow when he was back. But of course, every family wants to be together on Christmas. It was arduous sometiems. especially for my mom Savannah,just having to plan something else.”
He continued, “My siblings and my mom are always together on Christmas. but just having to plan something else to where we can all be together simultaneously occurring. It’s just something extra that a lot of people don’t got to deal with that. So it was definately a little stressful on the whole family, but we made it happen.”
As LeBron, 40, approaches retirement, Bronny anticipates potentially facing similar challenges. “Time is about to come where I might be the one away and these guys are going to be home without me. So, it’s something that we got to figure out.”
Over three decades ago, a memorable New York Knicks-Chicago Bulls Christmas game resulted in a lasting nightmare for Steve Kerr.
With 3.3 seconds remaining and the Bulls leading 100-97, Anthony Mason’s full-court inbounds pass whent to Kerr. Concerned about traveling, Kerr attempted a tap pass, but it landed directly into the hands of Knicks guard Hubert davis, who made a three-pointer to tie the game.
Draymond Green Cherished a Rare Christmas at Home During Suspension
Draymond green’s 2023 season was marked by a significant challenge: his indefinite suspension for striking Jusuf Nurkic. The incident led to frustration and even contemplation of retirement as green wrestled with rediscovering his passion for the game. However, within that 12-game suspension, a silver lining emerged – a truly merry Christmas spent at home with his kids and family, an experience he described as “good for his soul.”
“That was great.It was actually f—ing amazing,” Green told ESPN.He explained that Christmas Day as an NBA player frequently enough deviates from the cherished family memories of childhood. “usually it’s weird because Christmas Day is not like what you remember as a kid, where you spend with your family. We’ve been on the road five times, once when Green was suspended. I know my 5-year-old’s first Christmas, I was gone.”
Instead of being in Denver with his team, Green was able to open gifts with his children at home. The only other Christmas he didn’t play was in 2020, sidelined by a foot injury in Milwaukee.
While Green acknowledges the allure of playing on Christmas Day – “As an NBA player, you want to be on that stage — marquee games and everybody’s watching” – he admits the reality can be difficult. He sometimes tries to mitigate the separation by letting his kids open a gift before heading to games, but even as one of only ten players to achieve a Christmas Day triple-double, he confessed, “But as a human, it f—ing sucks, if I’m honest.”
Green fondly remembers watching NBA games on Christmas as a child, idolizing players like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. He jokingly suggested the NFL’s increasing presence on Christmas Day might offer a solution, allowing NBA players to spend the holiday at home with their families.
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Mitchell and Brunson Renew Rivalry on Christmas Day
CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson are set to face off on Christmas Day, rekindling a rivalry that began when they were both members of the Dallas Mavericks.
“I’ve been looking forward to it since the schedule came out,” Mitchell said. “It’s always fun playing against Jalen. We’ve been through a lot together, and I respect his game.”
The two players were teammates in Dallas for two seasons, forming a strong bond both on and off the court. However, their paths diverged when Mitchell was traded to the Utah Jazz and Brunson signed with the New York Knicks.
“We still talk all the time,” Brunson said.”He’s one of my closest friends in the league. But when we’re on the court, it’s all business.”
Last Christmas, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert recalled a disastrous Christmas trip after a loss in Denver. “The 8:30 p.m. game in Denver,it was the worst game,” said LeVert,who is 4-2 on Christmas. “We were thinking,how could we get back? We were going to ‘PJ’ after the game to get back home. But the team stayed the night. So yeah, it was by far the worst game of the season.”
IT HAS BEEN four years as Donovan Mitchell last played on Christmas Day.
He scored 33 points and outdueled Jalen Brunson, who had 27 points, in the Utah Jazz‘s 120-116 Christmas win over the Mavericks in 2021.
This Christmas, they will go at it again when Mitchell’s Cavaliers host Brun