NBA vs. NFL: Who’s Your Pick?
I love the NFL. I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day… -LeBron James
NBA games were plentiful on Christmas, but LeBron James made NBA news when he fired a warning shot across the bow of the NFL, stating that the holiday belonged to the kings of the hardcourt and not the goliaths of the gridiron.
The King Has Spoken
NFL Christmas games are an unusual sight, but when a window of opportunity appears, it’s never a good idea to pull down the shade. Previous statements from the NFL declared that no games would be played on Christmas if the holiday were to fall on a non-NFL day, which is what I would guess to be Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, although Saturday and even Tuesday have dotted the increasingly omnipresent NFL schedule.
The NFL to the NBA on Christmas Day. pic.twitter.com/BYz5HfYUT7
— Michael Hauff (@TheFFRealist) December 25, 2024
But the fanbase’s insatiable appetite for professional football could not be ignored, and the NFL’s C-suite decided to reverse course and give the people what they want…and add more money to the league’s coffers. Thus, the NFL appeared on Wednesday afternoon, Christmas Day 2024, when the Chiefs battled the Steelers and the Texans took on the Ravens.
The @Chiefs clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas Day. 🎄 pic.twitter.com/QLWg5H9Udt
— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2024
However, Christmas Day has traditionally belonged to the NBA, and one of its legendary stars, LeBron James, was in action on Christmas night when his Lakers tipped off against the Warriors and ultimately prevailed 115-113. LeBron James’ stats showed he had 31 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds in the victory, which helped the Lakers maintain a playoff spot in the NBA standings.
& to all a goodnight 💜 pic.twitter.com/2Suvk8cKHa
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 26, 2024
After the game, the King had a few choice words about the NFL creeping in on its exclusive holy day and wasn’t shy about sharing his thoughts.
“I love the NFL. I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day,” LeBron declared.
LeBron James: “I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day.” pic.twitter.com/aYGNODI5ud
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 26, 2024
The More the Merrier
As far as I’m concerned, the more, the merrier. The NBA had five games spread out evenly, beginning at noontime and ending past midnight. Glorious, I say! There’s nothing better than perusing the NBA betting odds and tossing a few bucks on the entire slate of Christmas games to hold your interest, especially when the conversation begins to dull after the initial welcoming of hugs and kisses to friends and relatives.
Forget about that awkward silence; the NBA is on, and you’ve got bets on the quarter, half, and game. Every possession is important, and you don’t care if you’re surrounded by dozens in the family room or sitting all by yourself in a cozy little den, as long as there’s a TV and a chair.
“It’s not just [me, Steph and LeBron], you see Jokic tonight. You see a hall of famer, an icon in Russ tonight. … It was an amazing day for basketball, I’m grateful I was able to play.”
—Kevin Durant wraps up NBA Christmas in the perfect way 🏀 pic.twitter.com/wPKcXEk4D9
— ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2024
But wait, there’s more! The NFL decided to add to the revelry, and I say, what the hell is wrong with that?! If you prefer the NBA, watch the NBA, but if you’re a football guy, then having the NFL on Netflix—which did a tremendous job, by the way, after the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fiasco—is a Christmas miracle. And if you want to click back and forth, even better.
You see, LeBron may espouse love for the NFL, but fans want choices. And dammit, we got those choices on Christmas Day and evening. As Queen’s legendary frontman, Freddie Mercury, once sang, “I Want It All and I Want It Now!”
With that, I say, Hail to the King and God Save the Queen; there’s room for both.
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