The NBA may be caught in its summer season doldrums proper now, but it surely’s by no means too early to consider Christmas. The league’s 2025 Christmas day schedule leaked on Friday afternoon because of ESPN insider Shams Charania, and the five-game slate is shaping as much as be one other improbable day of basketball.
The NBA needed to carry the warmth for these Christmas day matchups, as a result of the NFL is infringing on their territory. The NFL would possibly say they view Apple and Google, not the NBA and MLB, as their most important competitors, however Dec. 25 has at all times belonged to the basketball boys. With the NFL bringing the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions to its Christmas day schedule, the NBA adopted with their very own historic franchises and international stars. Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama, rookie sizzling shot Cooper Flagg, and plenty of extra will all be on show come Christmas day for the NBA.
Let’s rank the 5 video games we’ll see on Dec. 25 by which of them you should watch probably the most.
5. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
This matchup being final speaks to how robust the NBA’s Christmas slate is. The Warriors are a lock to play each Dec. 25 so long as Steph Curry remains to be Steph Curry. I’m a bit stunned the league gave Cooper Flagg its greatest stage instantly as a rookie, particularly throughout a yr when teammate Kyrie Irving will probably be sidelined as he recovers from a torn ACL. Flagg would be the youngest participant within the NBA this yr as he turns 19 years outdated just a few days earlier than Christmas. It’s an enormous spot for him, however I actually imagine he’ll be one of many faces of the league at some point quickly, and it’s an ideal transfer to start out constructing his model with marquee video games like this from the soar.
I see the Warriors within the No. 6-8 seed vary within the West this yr. I doubt Dallas can do higher than the play-in with out Irving. This can be a strong recreation, but it surely’s all completely cool to skip it for additional socialization with family and friends on the vacation.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
The primary recreation of the day options the 2 front-runners within the East. Madison Sq. Backyard is a basic backdrop for Christmas day within the NBA, and this one has two excellent groups in a measuring stick recreation for what many anticipate to be the eventual Japanese Convention Finals matchup.
So why is it No. 4? There’s simply not loads new about both of those groups, except you’re getting jacked up about Lonzo Ball spot minutes or Guerschon Yabusele within the Knicks’ eighth man function. Each of those groups are going through a specific amount of strain to lastly breakthrough this yr in a season the place the Celtics and Pacers are successfully eradicated already because of season-ending accidents from Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. I can’t wait to see these two groups play in Could, however there’s not fairly as a lot sense of discovery right here in comparison with the remainder of the slate.
3. Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers get a full season of Luka Magic this yr, and having LeBron James as a sidekick remains to be fairly good even every week in need of his forty first birthday when this matchup will probably be performed. The Lakers will go so far as Luka can take them, however there’s much more purpose to be optimistic concerning the Rockets. Houston received 52 video games and earned the No. 2 seed within the West final yr with nothing resembling a major scoring choice. Enter Kevin Durant, the 37-year-old sniper lastly able to win once more after a failed stint in Phoenix. With a workforce of rabid athletes and defenders round him, Durant ought to step into a simple function as a shooter and off-ball scorer who doesn’t should be Superman for his workforce to win each night time.
The Rockets are the deeper and extra athletic workforce. The Lakers nonetheless have one of the best particular person participant on the ground, and possibly even the 2 finest relying on how a lot LeBron needs to push it throughout the common season. I just like the Rockets to win extra common season video games than the Lakers this yr, however I wouldn’t be stunned if Doncic makes use of this stage as a chance to gun for his first MVP trophy. This will probably be high-level basketball with two excellent coaches and future Corridor of Famers on either side.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
The nightcap options one of the best rivalry going within the NBA proper now. The Nuggets knocked off the Wolves on their strategy to the primary championship in franchise historical past again in 2023. The Wolves ended their probabilities of a repeat the following yr with a surprising Sport 7 win that minted Anthony Edwards as a blue chip celebrity already. It’s must-see TV each time these two groups play, and this matchup will probably be no exception.
Need to watch one of the best participant on the planet? Nikola Jokic is ready to retain that title for the sixth straight season. Need to see probably the most thrilling American participant within the recreation, the man who bears the closest resemblance to MJ and Kobe? That may be Minnesota stud two-guard Anthony Edwards, who continues to show he’s prepared for the second. Denver loaded up over the offseason to lastly enhance Jokic’s supporting forged, whereas the Wolves are hoping their younger gamers take one other step ahead and get them excessive. Minnesota has received six straight video games in opposition to Denver, which is wild. The Nuggets really feel like the largest championship menace to the Thunder this season, they usually can show it in opposition to the Wolves.
1. San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
The Thunder received the 2025 NBA championship, and may very well be even higher this yr as Nikola Subject joins the rotation and all of their key gamers get one other yr nearer to their prime. If any workforce is ever going to construct a dynasty within the second-apron period, the Thunder are the apparent guess to do it. The Spurs may be their greatest challenger long-term. Victor Wembanyama already looks like a top-10 participant on the planet as he enters this third season, and he nonetheless has a lot room to develop. The Spurs lastly gave Wemby a good supporting forged this yr as De’Aaron Fox locked in with a large extension, and lottery luck rewarded the workforce with No. 2 choose Dylan Harper.
The Thunder are on the mountaintop. Wembanyama needs to steer the Spurs there, and simply making the playoffs in a loaded West could be a step in the fitting course this yr. Wembanyama was insanely superior on Christmas final season, and he’s solely getting higher. This may not be the matchup to resolve the West but, but it surely in all probability will probably be ultimately, and that makes it probably the most thrilling recreation of NBA Christmas.
