On December 25th, the Golden State Warriors marked Christmas with a 126-116 win against the Dallas Mavericks. While playing on such a high-profile day offers the Warriors a chance to showcase their elite status in the NBA, Draymond Green highlighted the tough personal cost of Christmas Day games. Green, participating in his 11th Christmas game, expressed on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show” that although it’s an honor to play when millions watch, it’s difficult to be away from family on a holiday. He emphasized that playing on Christmas affects players’ moods and deprives them of cherished family moments. LeBron James also voiced similar feelings before playing his 20th Christmas game, stating he’d prefer being home with his family, which sparked some backlash from fans who view Christmas games as a prestigious opportunity.
Green strongly rebutted the idea that players should just accept Christmas games as an honor without complaint, pointing out that missing family celebrations and the simple joys of Christmas is a real sacrifice. Despite this, Green contributed seven points to the Warriors’ win, continuing a streak of games with single-digit scoring. He challenged fans to consider whether working on Christmas Day is truly an honor, questioning the common narrative around holiday games.
The 2025 NBA Christmas schedule featured five exciting matchups, including the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-102, asserting Victor Wembanyama’s team as top contenders. In a thrilling overtime game, Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards combined for 100 points as the Denver Nuggets edged out the Minnesota Timberwolves 142-138.
Fan Take: This insight into the players’ personal struggles during Christmas games adds a new dimension to how fans view these events, reminding us that behind the glamour are human beings making sacrifices. It prompts the NBA and its followers to rethink how holiday scheduling impacts players’ well-being and family life while still celebrating basketball’s showcase moments.
