The NFL has long avoided scheduling games on Christmas, but in recent years, the league has embraced the holiday, even opting for Wednesday games to maximize its presence. Christmas Day, traditionally seen as the unofficial start of the NBA season, has been a time for basketball fans to enjoy some of the year’s most exciting matchups. This year, however, the NFL made its mark with two games that drew significant attention.
LeBron James, after a thrilling Lakers vs. Warriors game on Christmas night, made a bold statement: “I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day.” While his enthusiasm for the NBA is clear, the numbers tell a different story. The NBA had a strong showing, with an average of 5.2 million viewers across its five Christmas games, its highest in five years. The Lakers’ game against the Warriors, which featured LeBron facing off against Stephen Curry, drew an impressive 7.7 million viewers, peaking at 8.3 million. Meanwhile, the late game between the Suns and Nuggets also set a record for its time slot, with 3.8 million viewers.
Despite the NBA’s success, the NFL still dominated the day. The Chiefs-Steelers and Texans-Ravens games attracted an average of 24.2 million viewers, even though both games were blowouts. The NFL’s massive viewership numbers made it clear that the league remains the king of holiday sports, overshadowing the NBA’s efforts. LeBron’s statement quickly became a topic of conversation on social media, with many mocking the claim, given the NFL’s overwhelming numbers.
Looking ahead, the NFL’s strategy for Christmas is only likely to grow. The league already has plans for games on five different days in Week 17, and next year, Christmas will fall on a Thursday, which could lead to even more games being scheduled, similar to the NFL’s Thanksgiving tripleheader. The competition for holiday viewership between the NBA and NFL is fierce, but the NFL continues to hold the upper hand, regardless of the day.
In conclusion, while the NBA may have seen an uptick in its Christmas ratings, the NFL’s dominance remains evident. LeBron James’ claim that Christmas belongs to the NBA might be heartfelt, but the viewership numbers tell a different story, proving that the NFL is still the go-to sport for many fans during the holiday season.