The Most Memorable NBA Christmas Day Moments

The NBA on Christmas Day is a tradition like the NFL on Thanksgiving. Most fans feel like the season starts on Dec. 25 and it usually feels that way. About a quarter of the games are in the books and the league schedules the biggest games of the year on Christmas, so you can watch as you unwrap your gifts. There have been legendary performances throughout the years like Wilt Chamberlain's 36 rebound performance in 1961 and Bernard King's 60-point barrage in 1984. Christmas Day has also been a day of renewed rivalries like the Celtics vs. the Lakers or the Knicks vs. the Bulls. So to gear up for today's slate of games we present the Most Memorable NBA Christmas Day Moments.

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Year: 2003
Game: Cavaliers @ Magic

It may have been his rookie season and first time playing in the NBA on Christmas Day, but LeBron James was clearly ready for a battle against an offensively skilled Tracy McGrady and the Magic. In the end, LeBron's 34 points and six assists, couldn't topple T-Mac who nearly racked up a triple-double with 41 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. But don't feel bad for The King catching an L in 2003 because 'Bron 'Bron would definitely get plenty of W's in the years to come. All he needed to do was take his talents elsewhere. #nosubliminals #okaymaybe

Year: 1996
Game: Pistons @ Bulls

With the game being marketed as a glimpse into the future, Dennis Rodman steals the show. Grant Hill was on pace to become the league's best player and he would be going head-to-head with the NBA's current best player in Michael Jordan. Both had good games, but it was Dennis Rodman who had the best performance. The Worm grabbed 22 rebounds and added 11 points to help the Bulls beat the up and coming Pistons, 95-83. MJ had 23 points and 10 rebounds while Hill put up 28 points and eight boards. And don't forget about Pippen's near triple-double, dropping 28, eight and eight.

Year: 2008
Game: Celtics @ Lakers

The Celtics were on an unthinkable 19-game winning streak and had a record of 27-2 when they walked into the Staples Center as the defending champs on Christmas Day in 2008. Kobe Bean Bryant didn't like the sound of that not one bit. He, along with his favorite teammate Pau Gasol, put an end to that streak and let the basketball world know that they played in the 2008 Finals too.

Bryant scored 27 points, snatched nine rebounds, had five assists and added a steal. While Pau helped out with 20 points and three blocks to beat Boston, 92-83. The valiant efforts of Boston's Big Three+1 weren't enough. This game proved to be a prophecy of sorts as the Lakers would go on to win the 2009 NBA Championship.

Year: 1972
Game: Bucks @ Kings

Tiny is one of the best little guys to ever do it. Standing at 6'1", he's the only player to ever lead the L in scoring and assists. That very year, he put the NBA on notice. On Christmas Day, Archibald scored 20 points and dished out a Christmas Day record 18 dimes in a 104-99 loss to the Bucks.

Year: 1985
Game: Celtics @ Knicks

If you were a Knicks fan watching their game against the Celtics on Christmas Day in 1985, you probably gave up on them after the C's extended their lead to 25 and rightfully so. However, rookie Patrick Ewing wasn't going to let the Knickerbockers go down without a fight and they did just that. In the second half, New York outscored Boston 54-40 and after two overtimes, the Knicks came away with the 113-104 victoy, thanks to Ewing's then-career high in points with 32, as well as 11 boards. Pat's performance was just further reassurance that the franchise had something special in the Georgetown product.

Year: 2006
Game: Lakers @ Heat

With Shaq out due to injury, Wade was put on the big stage against Kobe. Flash dominated throughout and held Kobe to 16 points on 4-17 shooting. Dwyane scored 40 points on 12-20 shooting, grabbed four boards, had 11 assists, four steals and four blocks for the hell of it. That's a line you can only get in a game of 2K. Wade's performance led he Heat to a 101-85 victory.

Year: 2002
Game: Magic @ Pistons

Tracy was supposed to be injured leading up to the game, so everyone was surprised when he erupted for 46 points on 14 of 26 shots. He added six rebounds and three steals in case we thought he was playing. This was also the second time Tracy's teammate Grant Hill played his former team since signing with Orlando. Hill was hoping for a long, successful 2002-2003 campaign until his ankle betrayed him yet again. Grant struggled from the field scoring 10 points on 3-17 shooting, but grabbed 15 boards like a true professional. The Magic beat the Pistons 104-99 and Hill only played four more games that year.

Year: 1987
Game: Hawks @ 76ers

Dominique was one of the greatest shows on the court during the '80s. He was capable of scoring from anywhere and on Christmas Day in 1987 he did just that. Wilkins went 11-12 from the line and shot 17-28 from the field to score 45 points. Doc Rivers added 19 points and 11 assists to will the Hawks to a 106-100 victory over Barkley's Sixers. This win was the start of a nine-game winning streak for Atlanta.

Year: 1992
Game: Knicks @ Bulls

Mike always brought out his best against the Knicks and Christmas Day was no different. Jordan led Chicago back from two 10-point deficits by scoring 42 points, grabbing eight boards, dishing out five dimes and three steals. Little did NBA fans know, Jordan would retire at season's end to pursue a baseball career.

Year: 1993
Game: Rockets @ Suns

Sir Charles finally made it to the promise land, but came up short against Jordan's Bulls in the '93 Finals. The next season, Barkley was contemplating retirement due to a nagging back. It must've not been bothering him on Christmas Day in 1993. Facing off against the Dream and the Rockets, Charles dropped 38 points, grabbed 18 boards, and added four assists to blow out his future team, 111-91.

Year: 1994
Game: Knicks @ Bulls

Scottie Pippen single-handedly took care of the Knicks in the their first meeting since losing in the '94 playoffs. Pip dominated from the start, hitting three first quarter treys. He also dominated at the end, scoring all seven of Chicago's points in OT. The Bulls won 107-104 and Scottie finished with 36 points, 16 boards, five cookies, three dimes, and two blocks.

Year: 1965
Game: Celtics @ Bullets

Four years after Wilt the Stilt set the Christmas Day rebounding record with 36, Bill Russell grabbed 34 boards, falling two short of his rival. Russell added 16 points and the Celtics beat the Bullets, 113-99. The Celtics went on to win their eighth straight title at the end of the '65-'66 season.

Year: 1966
Game: Warriors @ Royals

Rick Barry was annoying, but dude could ball and also produced NBA players from his loins. The father of Drew, Brent and Jon, Rick shot the lights out on a nightly basis. Christmas Day in 1986 was no different. Barry scored 50 points, going 12-13 from the line with his underhanded shot, and leading the Warriors to a 124-112 win over the Cincinnati Royals.

Year: 2010
Game: Heat @ Lakers

The newly-formed and evil Miami Heat strolled into the defending champ's front yard and smacked them around in front of their mama. LeBron James hit the Lakers with his 31st career triple-double, giving 'em 27 points, 11, rebounds and 10 assists (plus four steals). Kobe could only muster 17 points and the Heat won 96-80 on national television, raising expectations to an all-time high. Chris Bosh added 24 points and 13 rebounds while Flash dropped in with 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block.

Year: 1961
Game: Knicks @ Warriors

Wilt the Stilt loved playing against the Knicks. During the same season he scored a league record 100 points on them, he set another record first. Chamberlain grabbed a Christmas Day record 36 rebounds to compliment his 59 points. Amazingly, the Sixers lost 136-135 in a double OT thriller.

Year: 1986
Game: Bulls @ Knicks

In one of their first meetings, Patrick Ewing got the best of Michael Jordan by the slimmest of margins. Pat put up 28 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks to go along with the game winner. Mike's line was just as stupid. His Airness had 30 points, three rebounds, five dimes, six steals, and two blocks to make it official. This Christmas Day nail-biter would be the beginning of a beautiful, yet bitter, rivalry between the Knicks and the Bulls for years to come.

Year: 2004
Game: Heat @ Lakers

Contrary to popular belief, David Stern loves his fans and he proved it by scheduling Shaq's first game against the Lakers on Christmas Day—O'Neal was dealt to Miami over the summer. The Diesel and Kobe ignored each other, adding to the drama. The Heat won 104-102 in OT. Shaq had 24 point and 11 rebounds, Kobe dropped 42, but Flash stole their thunder with 29 points and 10 assists.

Year: 1984
Game: Nets @ Knicks

In 1984, Bernard King was on another planet. He averaged a career-high 32.9 points and won his only scoring title that season. Against his former team, King hit the Nets for 40 in the first half and finished with a Christmas Day record 60 points. The Knicks lost 120-114, but no one remembers the score; only the kid from Brooklyn that shined on the game's biggest stage.