LeBron James reflects on playing NBA games on Christmas Day

December 22, 2025 Oliver Obel

Christmas Day is a holiday for most families. In the NBA, it is one of the league’s biggest workdays.

The league has long scheduled games on December 25, turning the holiday into a national showcase for star players and marquee matchups. This year is no different, with six teams set to play.

For Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, that tradition once again means spending Christmas at the arena.

NBA tradition, different reality

Across much of Europe, professional sport pauses on Christmas Day. The NBA does not. The league has continued its holiday schedule for decades, viewing the day as a prime moment for television audiences.

One of this year’s games will see the Lakers host the Houston Rockets. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time in Los Angeles on December 25, placing the game squarely in the middle of the holiday.

James, now in his 21st NBA season, has become a familiar presence on Christmas Day.

Balancing family and responsibility

Speaking this week in pre-game comments carried by U.S. sports media, James was direct about where he would prefer to be.

“I'd much rather be at home with my family,” he said.

James also acknowledged why the day still matters to him professionally. He said he grew up watching NBA games on Christmas and seeing the league’s biggest stars take the floor.

“It’s the game that I love,” he said. “It’s a game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day… It’s always been an honour to play it.”

Ultimately, James said, the job comes first.

“Our number is called, so we have to go out and perform,” he said. “And I look forward to it.”

A record-setting holiday career

This year’s game will be James’s 20th appearance on Christmas Day, the most in NBA history. He has played in the holiday fixture almost every season since his rookie year, missing only the 2006 Christmas game.

NBA statistics show that James also leads all players in Christmas Day points, field goals made and steals. His teams have gone 11–8 in those contests.

The matchup adds another layer of interest, with James set to face longtime rival and Olympic teammate Kevin Durant, underscoring how the NBA continues to use Christmas Day as a stage for its biggest names.

Sources: NBA statistics; player interview remarks reported by U.S. media