NBA
The NBA’s Christmas Day records: most points, most rebounds, most games...
LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain are among the greats of the game who have set records for Christmas Day games in the NBA.
Hoops lovers have no fewer than five NBA games to enjoy this Christmas Day, continuing a Yuletide tradition that began in the North American basketball league back in 1947.
Who is playing in the NBA on Christmas Day 2024?
The Christmas 2024 action begins with a 12 noon ET clash between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, before the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Dallas Mavericks at 2:30 p.m. The Boston Celtics then host the Philadelphia 76ers at 5 p.m., ahead of an all-Californian matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at 8 p.m. The day’s play concludes with a game between the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns in Arizona, at 10:30 p.m.
Ahead of this year’s December 25 games, we take a look back at some of the NBA’s major Christmas Day records:
Most points in a Christmas Day game
Bernard King established himself as an NBA great during a 14-year career in the league, spending his best years with the New York Knicks. He was named an All-Star in three of the four seasons he spent in the Big Apple - including 1984-85, when the Knicks faced the then-New Jersey Nets on December 25. The Hall of Famer set the record for points in a Christmas Day game, racking up 60 despite finishing up on the losing side. The small forward made 19 of his 30 shots and was successful with 22 of 26 free throws.
Most assists in a Christmas Day game
Nate Archibald and Guy Rodgers share the record for assists in a single Christmas matchup. Archibald, the Kings’ legendary point guard, recorded 18 assists in a 1972 game that pitted the franchise - then based in Kansas City - against the Milwaukee Bucks. Rodgers, meanwhile, amassed 18 assists for the Chicago Bulls in a Yuletide clash with the Knicks in 1966.
Most rebounds in a Christmas Day game
Wilt Chamberlain dominated the NBA during the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s. On Christmas Day 1961, in his third season in the league, the center recorded 59 points and 36 rebounds in the Philadelphia Warriors' defeat to the Knicks - hauls that both set records for a December 25 game. While Chamberlain’s points tally was later surpassed by King, his rebounds record has remained unbeaten for over 60 years.
Most Christmas Day appearances
The Knicks have played on the most occasions on Christmas Day, featuring in a total of 56 games so far. On an individual level, LeBron James’s 18 Christmas appearances is a record; the four-time NBA champion is also the highest career points scorer in games played on December 25, with 476.
Most common Christmas Day game
The 76ers and the Knicks have met a record 13 times on Christmas Day: in 1953, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 2017 and 2022. Philadelphia holds the upper hand in the teams' Christmas clashes, with eight wins and five losses.
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