It's a NBA Christmas - 2016 Christmas Day Schedule - it's the rematch baby!!!
Rachel Nichols’ Sit-down Interview with Kyrie Irving on ABC NBA Countdown Sunday
Conversation to Air within Pre-Game Show for NBA Finals Christmas Rematch on ABC
ESPN’s Rachel Nichols conducted a special sit-down interview with Cleveland Cavaliers’ superstar Kyrie Irving , which will air during the NBA Countdown pre-game show at 2 p.m. ET prior to Sunday’s highly-anticipatedNBA Finals Christmas Rematch on ABC.Irving and the Cavaliers will host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
During the interview, Irving will discuss a variety of topics, including the Warriors-Cavaliers rivalry which has changed the landscape of the NBA, how his life has changed since hitting the game-winning shot of NBA Finals Game 7 in June, and more. Below is an excerpt from Nichols’ interview with Irving on the trash talk that has transpired between the two championship teams since the NBA Finals:
Irving: “It just makes this Christmas Day game that much more special. We understand the magnitude of the game that we played six months ago. How much of what we accomplished, but also what they accomplished the year before. We don’t downplay each other’s talents, but at the same time, it’s still a very competitive environment.”
Nichols hosts The Jump, ESPN’s daily NBA show, which airs at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2and streams via the ESPN app.
On ABC & ESPN’s NBA Christmas coverage
The tradition continues as Christmas will be home to the NBA on ABC and ESPN for the 15th consecutive season. On Sunday, Dec. 25, ABC and ESPN will combine to present over 13 consecutive hours of NBA action over five games, highlighted by the much-anticipated rematch of the most-watchedNBA Finals in ABC history – the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and Kyrie Irving host the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant – at 2:30 p.m. ET onABC.
Conversation to Air within Pre-Game Show for NBA Finals Christmas Rematch on ABC
ESPN’s Rachel Nichols conducted a special sit-down interview with Cleveland Cavaliers’ superstar Kyrie Irving , which will air during the NBA Countdown pre-game show at 2 p.m. ET prior to Sunday’s highly-anticipatedNBA Finals Christmas Rematch on ABC.Irving and the Cavaliers will host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at 2:30 p.m. on ABC.
During the interview, Irving will discuss a variety of topics, including the Warriors-Cavaliers rivalry which has changed the landscape of the NBA, how his life has changed since hitting the game-winning shot of NBA Finals Game 7 in June, and more. Below is an excerpt from Nichols’ interview with Irving on the trash talk that has transpired between the two championship teams since the NBA Finals:
Irving: “It just makes this Christmas Day game that much more special. We understand the magnitude of the game that we played six months ago. How much of what we accomplished, but also what they accomplished the year before. We don’t downplay each other’s talents, but at the same time, it’s still a very competitive environment.”
Nichols hosts The Jump, ESPN’s daily NBA show, which airs at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2and streams via the ESPN app.
On ABC & ESPN’s NBA Christmas coverage
The tradition continues as Christmas will be home to the NBA on ABC and ESPN for the 15th consecutive season. On Sunday, Dec. 25, ABC and ESPN will combine to present over 13 consecutive hours of NBA action over five games, highlighted by the much-anticipated rematch of the most-watchedNBA Finals in ABC history – the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and Kyrie Irving host the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant – at 2:30 p.m. ET onABC.
Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors NBA Finals Rematch Highlights ABC’s & ESPN’s Five-Game NBA Christmas Slate
Seventh Christmas Day for Team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy & Mark Jackson
Two Episodes of NBA Countdown Including the Return of Earvin “Magic” Johnson to ABCNBA Countdown Host Michelle Beadle Works First Christmas in New Role
Additional Viewing Experiences on ESPN3 to Include Pre-game Warmups, Surround DataCenter & Surround Multiview
The tradition continues as Christmas will be home to the NBA on ABC and ESPN for the 15th consecutive season. On Sunday, Dec. 25, ABC and ESPN will combine to present over 13 consecutive hours of NBA action over five games, highlighted by the much-anticipated rematch of the most-watchedNBA Finals in ABC history – the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and Kyrie Irving host the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant – at 2:30 p.m. ET onABC.
The NBA Finals broadcast team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jacksonwill call their seventh Christmas day together and will handle Cavaliers-Warriors duties with sideline reporter Lisa Salters. NBA Countdown, featuring the return to ABC ofEarvin “Magic” Johnson, precedes the game at 2 p.m. ET alongside Michelle Beadle, hosting her first NBA Countdown on Christmas, Jalen Rose and Chauncey Billups.
In the second game within ABC’s afternoon doubleheader, the Chicago Bulls and Dwyane Wade will visit the San Antonio Spurs and Pau Gasol, at 5 p.m. Mark Jones and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown will provide commentary. Israel Gutierrez will serve as the sideline reporter.
The five-game Christmas slate tips off at 12 p.m. (noon) when the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony host the Boston Celtics and Isaiah Thomas at Madison Square Garden.Ryan Ruocco and Curt Gowdy award-winnerDoug Collins will call the action with sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth.
ESPN will also televise a prime-time Christmas night doubleheader, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and triple-double king Russell Westbrook host the Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns. Adam Amin will call his first Christmas game with analyst Doris Burke. In the final game of the day, the LA Clippers visit the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season. Dave Pasch will handle play-by-play with analystJon Barry and sideline reporter J.A. Adande.
Spanish-language simulcast of Clippers-Lakers
To complement ESPN Deportes’ coverage of the NBA during Christmas Day and in an effort to serve a broader Hispanic audience,ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN Deportes’Spanish-language coverage of the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers telecast.
Alternate viewing experiences on ESPN3
Throughout the day, ESPN will create several alternate viewing experiences for its NBA Christmas games on ESPN3 andWatchESPN. For the three ESPN telecasts,ESPN3 will air the games utilizing NBA Surround DataCenter, which will include graphic displays of in-game data, stats and information. For the ABC doubleheader,ESPN3 will implement NBA Surround Multiview, which will feature unique and alternative camera angles for the games. All five Christmas games will include live, in-arena pre-game coverage beginning 45 minutes prior to the tip, on ESPN3.
Additionally, Christmas coverage will include the following production highlights:
For the first time, two editions of NBA Countdown will air on Christmas. NBA Countdown on ESPN will tip off the day of coverage at 11:30 a.m. with host Michelle Beadle and analysts Jalen Rose andChauncey Billups. Also at 2 p.m. on ABC,NBA Countdown will air, leading into the NBA Finals rematch. Magic Johnson will return to the company as an analyst, to join Beadle,Rose and Billups for analysis.
Full schedule:
Time (ET) Telecast Network(s)
11:30 a.m. NBA Countdown
Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups
ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
12 p.m. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Ryan Ruocco, Doug Collins, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
2 p.m. NBA Countdown
Michelle Beadle, Magic Johnson, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups
ABC
2:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers
Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ABC, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN, ESPN Radio
5 p.m. Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs
Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Israel Gutierrez
ABC, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN, ESPN Radio
8 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder
Adam Amin, Doris Burke
ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
10:30 p.m. LA Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers
Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, J.A. Adande
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes
All five Christmas games will also air on ESPN Deportes and stream via WatchESPN. BothABC games will air on ESPN Radio. Additionally, ESPN International networks will carry the full Christmas schedule across South America, Central America and Mexico, the Caribbean (all islands other than Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Rim.
Seventh Christmas Day for Team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy & Mark Jackson
Two Episodes of NBA Countdown Including the Return of Earvin “Magic” Johnson to ABCNBA Countdown Host Michelle Beadle Works First Christmas in New Role
Additional Viewing Experiences on ESPN3 to Include Pre-game Warmups, Surround DataCenter & Surround Multiview
The tradition continues as Christmas will be home to the NBA on ABC and ESPN for the 15th consecutive season. On Sunday, Dec. 25, ABC and ESPN will combine to present over 13 consecutive hours of NBA action over five games, highlighted by the much-anticipated rematch of the most-watchedNBA Finals in ABC history – the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James and Kyrie Irving host the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant – at 2:30 p.m. ET onABC.
The NBA Finals broadcast team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jacksonwill call their seventh Christmas day together and will handle Cavaliers-Warriors duties with sideline reporter Lisa Salters. NBA Countdown, featuring the return to ABC ofEarvin “Magic” Johnson, precedes the game at 2 p.m. ET alongside Michelle Beadle, hosting her first NBA Countdown on Christmas, Jalen Rose and Chauncey Billups.
In the second game within ABC’s afternoon doubleheader, the Chicago Bulls and Dwyane Wade will visit the San Antonio Spurs and Pau Gasol, at 5 p.m. Mark Jones and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown will provide commentary. Israel Gutierrez will serve as the sideline reporter.
The five-game Christmas slate tips off at 12 p.m. (noon) when the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony host the Boston Celtics and Isaiah Thomas at Madison Square Garden.Ryan Ruocco and Curt Gowdy award-winnerDoug Collins will call the action with sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth.
ESPN will also televise a prime-time Christmas night doubleheader, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and triple-double king Russell Westbrook host the Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns. Adam Amin will call his first Christmas game with analyst Doris Burke. In the final game of the day, the LA Clippers visit the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season. Dave Pasch will handle play-by-play with analystJon Barry and sideline reporter J.A. Adande.
Spanish-language simulcast of Clippers-Lakers
To complement ESPN Deportes’ coverage of the NBA during Christmas Day and in an effort to serve a broader Hispanic audience,ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN Deportes’Spanish-language coverage of the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers telecast.
Alternate viewing experiences on ESPN3
Throughout the day, ESPN will create several alternate viewing experiences for its NBA Christmas games on ESPN3 andWatchESPN. For the three ESPN telecasts,ESPN3 will air the games utilizing NBA Surround DataCenter, which will include graphic displays of in-game data, stats and information. For the ABC doubleheader,ESPN3 will implement NBA Surround Multiview, which will feature unique and alternative camera angles for the games. All five Christmas games will include live, in-arena pre-game coverage beginning 45 minutes prior to the tip, on ESPN3.
Additionally, Christmas coverage will include the following production highlights:
- New Christmas broadcast open featuring music from recording artist Holidelic;
- Use of I-MOVIX cameras;
- Mic’d players.
For the first time, two editions of NBA Countdown will air on Christmas. NBA Countdown on ESPN will tip off the day of coverage at 11:30 a.m. with host Michelle Beadle and analysts Jalen Rose andChauncey Billups. Also at 2 p.m. on ABC,NBA Countdown will air, leading into the NBA Finals rematch. Magic Johnson will return to the company as an analyst, to join Beadle,Rose and Billups for analysis.
Full schedule:
Time (ET) Telecast Network(s)
11:30 a.m. NBA Countdown
Michelle Beadle, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups
ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
12 p.m. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Ryan Ruocco, Doug Collins, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
2 p.m. NBA Countdown
Michelle Beadle, Magic Johnson, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups
ABC
2:30 p.m. Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers
Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ABC, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN, ESPN Radio
5 p.m. Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs
Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Israel Gutierrez
ABC, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN, ESPN Radio
8 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder
Adam Amin, Doris Burke
ESPN, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
10:30 p.m. LA Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers
Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, J.A. Adande
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes
All five Christmas games will also air on ESPN Deportes and stream via WatchESPN. BothABC games will air on ESPN Radio. Additionally, ESPN International networks will carry the full Christmas schedule across South America, Central America and Mexico, the Caribbean (all islands other than Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Rim.
ESPN, Kobe Bryant Partner on Short-Form Video Series
ERIC CHARBONNEAU/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
DECEMBER 23, 2016 | 08:00AM PT
ESPN and basketball legend Kobe Bryantwill team up to present six short-form videos during NBA coverage produced by the network, the Disney-owned sports-cable outlet said Friday.
The effort, dubbed “Canvas,” will include six short video presentations on various topics related to playing basketball, each seen through Bryant’s viewpoint. The first will debut on Christmas Day, during ABC’s airing of “NBA Countdown” at 2 p.m. eastern on December 25. A Spanish-language version of the piece will air during ESPN Deportes’ Christmas NBA coverage at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
“Kobe is one of the most important athletes of the past 20 years, known for his brilliant basketball mind equally as much as his spellbinding athletic capabilities,” said Kevin Wildes, ESPN’s vice president of original content, in a prepared statement. “These videos, which are more like short films, mirror the unique approach Kobe took to the game of basketball. We’re eager for the fans to see his thought process come to life in video form.”
The first piece in the series will center on how to approach guarding some of the best NBA players. Once “Canvas: Guarding the Greats” airs the “NBA Countdown” team – Michelle Beadle, Earvin “Magic Johnson,” Jalen Rose and Chauncey Billups – will provide analysis on the topic during the show. Bryant will also voice a Spanish-language version of the piece, which will air on ESPN Deportes during the network’s Christmas NBA coverage. Additional “Canvas” segments will air throughout the remainder of the 2016-17 NBA season, and could be tied to regular-season match-ups on ESPN and ABC, the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals.
Bryant, who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and won five NBA championships with the team.
Through his Docen Media unit, Bryant has produced other sports-related programming, such a “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a project that launched on Showtime in February of last year. Bryant served as creator and executive producer on the film.
ERIC CHARBONNEAU/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
DECEMBER 23, 2016 | 08:00AM PT
ESPN and basketball legend Kobe Bryantwill team up to present six short-form videos during NBA coverage produced by the network, the Disney-owned sports-cable outlet said Friday.
The effort, dubbed “Canvas,” will include six short video presentations on various topics related to playing basketball, each seen through Bryant’s viewpoint. The first will debut on Christmas Day, during ABC’s airing of “NBA Countdown” at 2 p.m. eastern on December 25. A Spanish-language version of the piece will air during ESPN Deportes’ Christmas NBA coverage at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
“Kobe is one of the most important athletes of the past 20 years, known for his brilliant basketball mind equally as much as his spellbinding athletic capabilities,” said Kevin Wildes, ESPN’s vice president of original content, in a prepared statement. “These videos, which are more like short films, mirror the unique approach Kobe took to the game of basketball. We’re eager for the fans to see his thought process come to life in video form.”
The first piece in the series will center on how to approach guarding some of the best NBA players. Once “Canvas: Guarding the Greats” airs the “NBA Countdown” team – Michelle Beadle, Earvin “Magic Johnson,” Jalen Rose and Chauncey Billups – will provide analysis on the topic during the show. Bryant will also voice a Spanish-language version of the piece, which will air on ESPN Deportes during the network’s Christmas NBA coverage. Additional “Canvas” segments will air throughout the remainder of the 2016-17 NBA season, and could be tied to regular-season match-ups on ESPN and ABC, the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals.
Bryant, who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and won five NBA championships with the team.
Through his Docen Media unit, Bryant has produced other sports-related programming, such a “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a project that launched on Showtime in February of last year. Bryant served as creator and executive producer on the film.
Tracy McGrady Reflects on adidas ABCD Camp & Playing LeBron on Christmas
Tracy McGrady may be the most creative scorer the game has ever seen. Chances are if you needed a bucket you needed T-Mac and odds were he was going to deliver. Whether he was rocking defenders to sleep on the perimeter before dropping a net-splashing three or blowing right by an opposing wing only to bury their big man with a fearless dunk, #1 was bound to give you either 2 or 3 on every possession.
As the recently announced Hall of Fame nominee analyzes the likes of James Harden and Russell Westbrook as a regular on ESPN’s The Jump and ESPN’s NBA Countdown Show, the man who reached triple-double stats via individual plays (remember the self alley-oop off the backboard?) still registers as a talent with game and imagination before his time. Recently, we caught up with T-Mac to reflect on his days in the NBA, his signature line with adidas and who he’s excited to see play Sunday on ESPN and ABC’s lineup of Christmas games.
Nice Kicks: Which Christmas game are you most looking forward to covering this year?
Tracy McGrady: Cleveland and Golden State. That’s the obvious pick because it’s a Finals rematch, but with KD being the addition to Golden State and LeBron and them playing exceptionally well these are the top two teams in the NBA. I want to see how Golden State fares out with KD on their team going up against LeBron and his crew. I want to see how KD goes at LeBron if he does. I want to see what type of impact he will have being on this team. He’s going to get less shots than he would if he was playing on OKC, so he’s got to be a little more efficient. We’ll see, it’s going to be interesting to see how he fits in with these guys going against a dominant team like Cleveland.
Nice Kicks: 13 years ago, you played LeBron James on Christmas Day. What do you remember about that game and what were your emotions going into that showdown?
Tracy McGrady: It was probably my third Christmas Day game. Playing against LeBron with all the hype around him his rookie season, I couldn’t allow him to come into Orlando and outshine me. Actually, a couple of my boys had some bets that he was going to outscore me, which was blasphemy to think I’m gonna let this rookie come in and outshine me on Christmas Day! There’s no way! [Laughs] But it was a hell of a duel. I can remember some of the shots he was hitting — they were tough shots. I was like, ‘This dude is for real!’ Once I saw that he was going to have a pretty good game because of the shots he was hitting, I knew I had to get focused and turn it up a little bit. It was a hell of a duel though.
Nice Kicks: It’s funny because just one year prior he was wearing your shoes in high school. Do you recall watching that or did adidas tell you about it?
Tracy McGrady: I didn’t know he would, but I remember watching it on TV. At that time, I had a lot of these young up and coming guys in high school wearing my shoes. It felt good then because I was still relatively young myself — I was only in my early 20s — so seeing these young guys in my shoes was definitely what I wanted to do as a young boy coming up.
Nice Kicks: On the high school note, much of your success and rise is credited to your performance at adidas ABCD Camp. What was your mindset going into that camp and how much did your play there influence you signing with adidas?
Tracy McGrady: My mindset was this is that opportunity that you’ve been waiting for. Growing up in Florida, yeah I had a name around my area and in my county, but outside of that nobody really knew who I was. Definitely not outside of the state. So, this was an opportunity to go up against the most talented guys in the country because we’re all here at this camp.
When I first got there, some of my Florida guys were telling me about this kid Lamar Odom. That’s all I was hearing. “Man, he got game, Lamar Odom’s a 6’10 point guard.” And I’m like, “What? Where I’m from if you’re 6’9 you’re the tallest cat on the team. If you’re 6’5, you’re the center!” And they’re like, “Man he’s a 6’10 point guard out of New York City!” And I’m like, “I ain’t never seen that before!”
But my mindset was this is that door that you wanted to open and you’ve got to take advantage of it. He was the first person I played and I put it down. You never know, you might believe in your ability because you’re used to playing against certain guys, but when you step outside of that rim and then you’re talking about the best players in the country, you want to see how good you really are, right? So I’m like, sh*t let’s do it. Let me see. When I realized that I had just as much game as anybody there, it was on from that point.
[As far as adidas] I had a great rapport with Sonny Vaccaro when I left that camp. I was with them after my junior year when I moved my senior year to (adidas-sponsored) Mt. Zion Christian Academy, so the relationship was there. It was great with them. But when I was making my decision as to what shoe company I was going to sign with, I still visited the Nike campus because there was an opportunity for me to sign with them as well. But, when you’re 18 years old you gotta go with who comes with the bigger bag. I understood that at the time.
Nice Kicks: Once you were a few years in at adidas, you became the face of the Mad Handle and eventually got your own signature line — the longest of an adidas hooper until Derrick Rose this season. Was getting your own shoe always a goal?
Tracy McGrady: Having a shoe just comes with that dream of playing in the NBA. Just growing up on streetball and idolizing the guys that were NBA players at that time, you know? My guy Penny had his own shoe, of course Jordan had his own shoe, Pippen had his own shoe, and when you idolize those guys obviously one of these days you want to have your own. It was a goal: if I made it to the league, I wanted to have my own shoe one day and be that guy who kids idolized and wanted that same dream. It became that.
Nice Kicks: That definitely happened, everybody at basketball camp my freshman year had the TMAC 1. From your signature campaign, which pair or commercial stands out as your favorite and why?
Tracy McGrady: My favorite shoe of my line was the 3.5. I played with them around 2004. They were more of my style. They were mids, pretty light and they didn’t have a lot going on — they were pretty smooth. For commercial, it would be the one for the TMAC 3 that had the Birdman “What Happened to That Boy” beat in the background.
Nice Kicks: For a young player trying to make their name in the league today, what advice would you give them in regards to getting their own shoe line?
Tracy McGrady: It’s a little bit different these days. When we were coming out of high school, coming out of college, guys were signing nice deals. It’s not that way these days unless you’re LeBron James. It’s just whoever you feel comfortable with. Obviously Nike is a great company and they have the best talent under their umbrella – LeBron James, they had Kobe, they have Kyrie now, KD — they are the goliath of the shoe companies. Adidas is up and coming though. They still need some work on the basketball side but as far as adidas lifestyle, they are killing it right now.
Nice Kicks: As far as hooping, have you got a chance to play in the Crazy Explosive that Andrew Wiggins wears or the new Crazylights? They’re great.
Tracy McGrady: Nope, I’m gonna have to try those out. I saw a photo of the new Lillards, I kinda like those. I haven’t seen them in person, but I like the photo.
Nice Kicks: Keeping with the league today,Bleacher Report did a great piece on you two years back and you say there’s no KD or LeBron after they leave. Do you still feel that way or through broadcasting have you noticed new players that excite you?
Tracy McGrady: Russell Westbrook is my guy. On any given day, I don’t give a damn who Westbrook is playing, I want to watch him play. He’s that guy that I love to watch because of his tenacity and just how hard he plays. He plays like it’s his last game for real. Giannis Antetokounmpo I think is going to be that next guy. He’s fun to watch, very athletic, he’s long and he’s an exciting up and coming player that I love to watch. He’s a game changer on both ends of the court.
Nice Kicks: He’s kind of like you and Lamar in terms of having a game that extends his frame. I have to ask, how did the self alley-oop off the backboard come about? Were you inspired by what was going on in streetball? Did you ever think you’d do it in an NBA game?
Tracy McGrady: It was planned ’cause I did it in high school. I did it in high school a couple of times, so the goal was to do it at the highest level of basketball. I did it I think three times in the NBA — I did it preseason against the Boston Celtics, I did it in the All-Star Game and I did it against the Toronto Raptors at home.
Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images
Nice Kicks: Speaking of dunks, you and Vince’s performance in the 2000 Dunk Contest still stands amongst the best ever. What type of collaboration or competition went into your dunks beforehand?
Tracy McGrady: It was me being pissed off that he really wanted me to be in it ’cause I knew he was going to f*cking win it! [Laughs] It was me the whole time rolling my eyes at him like, “Really, why do you want me in this?” I knew he was going to win because I’d seen a lot of those dunks in practice. We never practiced the dunk between the legs off the bounce. We never practiced that. That was just off the fly at the Dunk Contest.
Nice Kicks: I almost feel like Wiggins learned from that watching Zach Lavine before the Dunk Contest in practice.
Tracy McGrady: Yeah man, that dude is nasty. Last year’s Dunk Contest is one of the best I’ve seen. Absolutely, they brought it back.
Nice Kicks: Kenny Smith said during the 2000 Dunk Contest that Muggsy Bouges should’ve been throwing you guys the passes. [Laughs] You and Muggsy were both recently nominated to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Tell us what that means to you.
Tracy McGrady: I can’t even lie, but never growing up was that a dream or a goal because I didn’t know what the hell the Hall of Fame was at that time. I didn’t know about it until I got to the NBA. It’s just a testament of what I brought to the game. You know, putting up big numbers, being exciting. I know everybody can’t win a championship, anybody can, but everybody can’t get in the Hall of Fame and to be nominated on this year’s ballot is definitely humbling.
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Nice Kicks: Going back to the Christmas games, Sunday the NBA’s current crop of talent will be playing in special edition Christmas shoes while you broadcast the game. If you could redo one of your signature shoes in a Christmas theme, what would the concept be and which shoe would you pick?
Tracy McGrady: It would probably be my patent leather TMAC 3s. As far as theme, that’s a good one. I’d probably have the Grinch on there ’cause I’m about to ruin somebody’s Christmas. [Laughs] I’d probably do one red and one green.
Nice Kicks: You might have to call Packer and adidas to make that happen. Grinch aside, with the holiday season being all about love and joy, does any time, moment or memory stand out as when you really realized you loved the game or had the most joy playing it?
Tracy McGrady: There’s a moment that really resonates with me that it’s more than just a basketball game and the impact that we have on people that watch the games. That’s when the little kid from DC who was one of the victims of the DC sniper said he wanted to meet me and we made it happen. We actually brought him down for a Christmas game when we played the Detroit Pistons on Christmas Day and I dropped 46 for him. That right there is probably one of the greatest times of my life. This kid was the victim of a cowardly act, in a hospital all shot up and his freakin’ wish was to meet me. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Tracy McGrady may be the most creative scorer the game has ever seen. Chances are if you needed a bucket you needed T-Mac and odds were he was going to deliver. Whether he was rocking defenders to sleep on the perimeter before dropping a net-splashing three or blowing right by an opposing wing only to bury their big man with a fearless dunk, #1 was bound to give you either 2 or 3 on every possession.
As the recently announced Hall of Fame nominee analyzes the likes of James Harden and Russell Westbrook as a regular on ESPN’s The Jump and ESPN’s NBA Countdown Show, the man who reached triple-double stats via individual plays (remember the self alley-oop off the backboard?) still registers as a talent with game and imagination before his time. Recently, we caught up with T-Mac to reflect on his days in the NBA, his signature line with adidas and who he’s excited to see play Sunday on ESPN and ABC’s lineup of Christmas games.
Nice Kicks: Which Christmas game are you most looking forward to covering this year?
Tracy McGrady: Cleveland and Golden State. That’s the obvious pick because it’s a Finals rematch, but with KD being the addition to Golden State and LeBron and them playing exceptionally well these are the top two teams in the NBA. I want to see how Golden State fares out with KD on their team going up against LeBron and his crew. I want to see how KD goes at LeBron if he does. I want to see what type of impact he will have being on this team. He’s going to get less shots than he would if he was playing on OKC, so he’s got to be a little more efficient. We’ll see, it’s going to be interesting to see how he fits in with these guys going against a dominant team like Cleveland.
Nice Kicks: 13 years ago, you played LeBron James on Christmas Day. What do you remember about that game and what were your emotions going into that showdown?
Tracy McGrady: It was probably my third Christmas Day game. Playing against LeBron with all the hype around him his rookie season, I couldn’t allow him to come into Orlando and outshine me. Actually, a couple of my boys had some bets that he was going to outscore me, which was blasphemy to think I’m gonna let this rookie come in and outshine me on Christmas Day! There’s no way! [Laughs] But it was a hell of a duel. I can remember some of the shots he was hitting — they were tough shots. I was like, ‘This dude is for real!’ Once I saw that he was going to have a pretty good game because of the shots he was hitting, I knew I had to get focused and turn it up a little bit. It was a hell of a duel though.
Nice Kicks: It’s funny because just one year prior he was wearing your shoes in high school. Do you recall watching that or did adidas tell you about it?
Tracy McGrady: I didn’t know he would, but I remember watching it on TV. At that time, I had a lot of these young up and coming guys in high school wearing my shoes. It felt good then because I was still relatively young myself — I was only in my early 20s — so seeing these young guys in my shoes was definitely what I wanted to do as a young boy coming up.
Nice Kicks: On the high school note, much of your success and rise is credited to your performance at adidas ABCD Camp. What was your mindset going into that camp and how much did your play there influence you signing with adidas?
Tracy McGrady: My mindset was this is that opportunity that you’ve been waiting for. Growing up in Florida, yeah I had a name around my area and in my county, but outside of that nobody really knew who I was. Definitely not outside of the state. So, this was an opportunity to go up against the most talented guys in the country because we’re all here at this camp.
When I first got there, some of my Florida guys were telling me about this kid Lamar Odom. That’s all I was hearing. “Man, he got game, Lamar Odom’s a 6’10 point guard.” And I’m like, “What? Where I’m from if you’re 6’9 you’re the tallest cat on the team. If you’re 6’5, you’re the center!” And they’re like, “Man he’s a 6’10 point guard out of New York City!” And I’m like, “I ain’t never seen that before!”
But my mindset was this is that door that you wanted to open and you’ve got to take advantage of it. He was the first person I played and I put it down. You never know, you might believe in your ability because you’re used to playing against certain guys, but when you step outside of that rim and then you’re talking about the best players in the country, you want to see how good you really are, right? So I’m like, sh*t let’s do it. Let me see. When I realized that I had just as much game as anybody there, it was on from that point.
[As far as adidas] I had a great rapport with Sonny Vaccaro when I left that camp. I was with them after my junior year when I moved my senior year to (adidas-sponsored) Mt. Zion Christian Academy, so the relationship was there. It was great with them. But when I was making my decision as to what shoe company I was going to sign with, I still visited the Nike campus because there was an opportunity for me to sign with them as well. But, when you’re 18 years old you gotta go with who comes with the bigger bag. I understood that at the time.
Nice Kicks: Once you were a few years in at adidas, you became the face of the Mad Handle and eventually got your own signature line — the longest of an adidas hooper until Derrick Rose this season. Was getting your own shoe always a goal?
Tracy McGrady: Having a shoe just comes with that dream of playing in the NBA. Just growing up on streetball and idolizing the guys that were NBA players at that time, you know? My guy Penny had his own shoe, of course Jordan had his own shoe, Pippen had his own shoe, and when you idolize those guys obviously one of these days you want to have your own. It was a goal: if I made it to the league, I wanted to have my own shoe one day and be that guy who kids idolized and wanted that same dream. It became that.
Nice Kicks: That definitely happened, everybody at basketball camp my freshman year had the TMAC 1. From your signature campaign, which pair or commercial stands out as your favorite and why?
Tracy McGrady: My favorite shoe of my line was the 3.5. I played with them around 2004. They were more of my style. They were mids, pretty light and they didn’t have a lot going on — they were pretty smooth. For commercial, it would be the one for the TMAC 3 that had the Birdman “What Happened to That Boy” beat in the background.
Nice Kicks: For a young player trying to make their name in the league today, what advice would you give them in regards to getting their own shoe line?
Tracy McGrady: It’s a little bit different these days. When we were coming out of high school, coming out of college, guys were signing nice deals. It’s not that way these days unless you’re LeBron James. It’s just whoever you feel comfortable with. Obviously Nike is a great company and they have the best talent under their umbrella – LeBron James, they had Kobe, they have Kyrie now, KD — they are the goliath of the shoe companies. Adidas is up and coming though. They still need some work on the basketball side but as far as adidas lifestyle, they are killing it right now.
Nice Kicks: As far as hooping, have you got a chance to play in the Crazy Explosive that Andrew Wiggins wears or the new Crazylights? They’re great.
Tracy McGrady: Nope, I’m gonna have to try those out. I saw a photo of the new Lillards, I kinda like those. I haven’t seen them in person, but I like the photo.
Nice Kicks: Keeping with the league today,Bleacher Report did a great piece on you two years back and you say there’s no KD or LeBron after they leave. Do you still feel that way or through broadcasting have you noticed new players that excite you?
Tracy McGrady: Russell Westbrook is my guy. On any given day, I don’t give a damn who Westbrook is playing, I want to watch him play. He’s that guy that I love to watch because of his tenacity and just how hard he plays. He plays like it’s his last game for real. Giannis Antetokounmpo I think is going to be that next guy. He’s fun to watch, very athletic, he’s long and he’s an exciting up and coming player that I love to watch. He’s a game changer on both ends of the court.
Nice Kicks: He’s kind of like you and Lamar in terms of having a game that extends his frame. I have to ask, how did the self alley-oop off the backboard come about? Were you inspired by what was going on in streetball? Did you ever think you’d do it in an NBA game?
Tracy McGrady: It was planned ’cause I did it in high school. I did it in high school a couple of times, so the goal was to do it at the highest level of basketball. I did it I think three times in the NBA — I did it preseason against the Boston Celtics, I did it in the All-Star Game and I did it against the Toronto Raptors at home.
Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images
Nice Kicks: Speaking of dunks, you and Vince’s performance in the 2000 Dunk Contest still stands amongst the best ever. What type of collaboration or competition went into your dunks beforehand?
Tracy McGrady: It was me being pissed off that he really wanted me to be in it ’cause I knew he was going to f*cking win it! [Laughs] It was me the whole time rolling my eyes at him like, “Really, why do you want me in this?” I knew he was going to win because I’d seen a lot of those dunks in practice. We never practiced the dunk between the legs off the bounce. We never practiced that. That was just off the fly at the Dunk Contest.
Nice Kicks: I almost feel like Wiggins learned from that watching Zach Lavine before the Dunk Contest in practice.
Tracy McGrady: Yeah man, that dude is nasty. Last year’s Dunk Contest is one of the best I’ve seen. Absolutely, they brought it back.
Nice Kicks: Kenny Smith said during the 2000 Dunk Contest that Muggsy Bouges should’ve been throwing you guys the passes. [Laughs] You and Muggsy were both recently nominated to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Tell us what that means to you.
Tracy McGrady: I can’t even lie, but never growing up was that a dream or a goal because I didn’t know what the hell the Hall of Fame was at that time. I didn’t know about it until I got to the NBA. It’s just a testament of what I brought to the game. You know, putting up big numbers, being exciting. I know everybody can’t win a championship, anybody can, but everybody can’t get in the Hall of Fame and to be nominated on this year’s ballot is definitely humbling.
Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
Nice Kicks: Going back to the Christmas games, Sunday the NBA’s current crop of talent will be playing in special edition Christmas shoes while you broadcast the game. If you could redo one of your signature shoes in a Christmas theme, what would the concept be and which shoe would you pick?
Tracy McGrady: It would probably be my patent leather TMAC 3s. As far as theme, that’s a good one. I’d probably have the Grinch on there ’cause I’m about to ruin somebody’s Christmas. [Laughs] I’d probably do one red and one green.
Nice Kicks: You might have to call Packer and adidas to make that happen. Grinch aside, with the holiday season being all about love and joy, does any time, moment or memory stand out as when you really realized you loved the game or had the most joy playing it?
Tracy McGrady: There’s a moment that really resonates with me that it’s more than just a basketball game and the impact that we have on people that watch the games. That’s when the little kid from DC who was one of the victims of the DC sniper said he wanted to meet me and we made it happen. We actually brought him down for a Christmas game when we played the Detroit Pistons on Christmas Day and I dropped 46 for him. That right there is probably one of the greatest times of my life. This kid was the victim of a cowardly act, in a hospital all shot up and his freakin’ wish was to meet me. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Jordan Brand’s New Christmas Collection Pays Homage to Air Jordan 13 OG
As with tradition, on December 25 the NBA will host a masterful marquee of games featuring the league’s best teams and its brightest stars. Jordan Brand will use this opportunity to roll out their new Christmas collection which odes to the Air Jordan 13OG.
The White/Black-True Red-Pearl Grey iteration isn’t traditionally a holiday shoe, but it does fall in line with the colors of the season. Alongside its retro release, the PE collection features new iterations of the all-new Jordan Melo M13, Air Jordan XXX1, Jordan CP3.X and the Jordan Extra.Fly. The offering will be worn by LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard, Victor Oladipo, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and James Young.
Of the shoes mentioned, the Jordan Melo M13 will release on January 1 2017. Check out the collection below and be sure to stay tuned for some holiday Kicks on Court action.
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Jordan Brand Christmas Collection
Jordan Melo M13
Air Jordan XXX1 “Christmas” PE
Jordan Melo M13 PE
Jordan CP3.X PE
As with tradition, on December 25 the NBA will host a masterful marquee of games featuring the league’s best teams and its brightest stars. Jordan Brand will use this opportunity to roll out their new Christmas collection which odes to the Air Jordan 13OG.
The White/Black-True Red-Pearl Grey iteration isn’t traditionally a holiday shoe, but it does fall in line with the colors of the season. Alongside its retro release, the PE collection features new iterations of the all-new Jordan Melo M13, Air Jordan XXX1, Jordan CP3.X and the Jordan Extra.Fly. The offering will be worn by LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard, Victor Oladipo, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and James Young.
Of the shoes mentioned, the Jordan Melo M13 will release on January 1 2017. Check out the collection below and be sure to stay tuned for some holiday Kicks on Court action.
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Air Jordan 13 OG “True Red”
Jordan Brand Christmas Collection
Jordan Melo M13
Air Jordan XXX1 “Christmas” PE
Jordan Melo M13 PE
Jordan CP3.X PE
By the numbers: 25 NBA on Christmas Day facts
AJ Neuharth-Keusch | USA TODAY Sports8:38 a.m. ET Dec. 24, 2016
With the NBA’s showcase Christmas Day games coming up Sunday, we take a by-the-numbers look at the rich history of the NBA on Christmas Day, from all-time statistical leaders to best single-game performances.
1. The NBA on Christmas Day tradition began in 1947, when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers, 89-75, at the old Madison Square Garden.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry dribbles the basketball against Cleveland Cavaliers ...more
Kyle Terada, USAT
2. After this year’s slate of games, the NBA will have played 242 games on Christmas Day.
3. This year will be the New York Knicks’ 51st Christmas Day appearance — the most of all time.
4. Kobe Bryant is the all-time leading scorer with 395 points, followed by Oscar Robertson (377), Dwyane Wade (277), Shaquille O’Neal (272) and LeBron James (270).
5. Ryan Anderson set the record for most single-game three-pointers made when he knocked down six against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011.
6. Carmelo Anthony has averaged 34.3 points per game on Christmas Day, the highest mark among all players with at least four appearances, and Tracy McGrady leads all players (minimum of two games played) with a 43.3-point average in three games.
7. Oscar Robertson is the all-time assist leader (145), followed by Kobe Bryant (85) and LeBron James (72).
8. Russell Westbrook tied the record for most steals in a game (6) last year against the Chicago Bulls.
9. Hall of Fame forward Bernard King set the single-game scoring record when he dropped 60 points against the New Jersey Nets in 1984. Kevin Durant (44 points in 2010) is the active leader.
10. This year will mark the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first Christmas Day appearance.
11. Thirty-seven players from outside the U.S. representing 22 countries are on the rosters of teams playing on Christmas Day this year.
12. Guy Rodgers and Nate “Tiny” Archibald are tied for the most assists in a single-game with 18, recorded in 1966 and 1972, respectively.
13. Scottie Pippen has the most steals in Christmas Day history (24 in seven games), followed by Russell Westbrook (20 in six games) and Dwyane Wade (19 in 11 games).
14. The Oklahoma City Thunder (4-13; 23.5%) have the worst Christmas Day winning percentage of teams that have played more than five games.
15. Starting with a game against the Phoenix Suns during his rookie season and ending with last year’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Kobe Bryant played the most Christmas Day games in NBA history (16) over the course of his 20-year career. Dwyane Wade leads all active players (11), followed by Udonis Haslem and LeBron James (10).
Kobe Bryant moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball ...more
16. Wilt Chamberlain grabbed 36 rebounds in 1961 against the New York Knicks, setting a Christmas Day record that still stands.
17. DeAndre Jordan broke Elvin Hayes’ 31-year-old record when he blocked eight shots against the Golden State Warriors in 2011.
18. Bill Russell is the all-time leader in Christmas Day rebounds with 176 in eight games.
19. The winners of the past eight NBA MVP Awards and the previous nine scoring titles are scheduled to play in this year’s games.
20. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Patrick Ewing hitting a buzzer beater to give the New York Knicks an 86-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls in what was one of the NBA’s most memorable Christmas Day games.
21. This is the ninth consecutive year that the NBA will play five games on Christmas Day.
22. Shaquille O’Neal blocked 25 shots in 13 Christmas Day games — the most of all-time. Among active players, DeAndre Jordan (five games) and Dwight Howard (seven games) are third and fourth on the list with 19 and 18 blocks, respectively.
23. Five players — Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Billy Cunningham, John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson — have recorded a triple-double on Christmas Day.
24. The lockout-shortened 2011 NBA season opened on Christmas Day, starting with a game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.
25. The Miami Heat (10-2; 83.3%) have the best Christmas Day winning percentage.
AJ Neuharth-Keusch | USA TODAY Sports8:38 a.m. ET Dec. 24, 2016
With the NBA’s showcase Christmas Day games coming up Sunday, we take a by-the-numbers look at the rich history of the NBA on Christmas Day, from all-time statistical leaders to best single-game performances.
1. The NBA on Christmas Day tradition began in 1947, when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers, 89-75, at the old Madison Square Garden.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry dribbles the basketball against Cleveland Cavaliers ...more
Kyle Terada, USAT
2. After this year’s slate of games, the NBA will have played 242 games on Christmas Day.
3. This year will be the New York Knicks’ 51st Christmas Day appearance — the most of all time.
4. Kobe Bryant is the all-time leading scorer with 395 points, followed by Oscar Robertson (377), Dwyane Wade (277), Shaquille O’Neal (272) and LeBron James (270).
5. Ryan Anderson set the record for most single-game three-pointers made when he knocked down six against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011.
6. Carmelo Anthony has averaged 34.3 points per game on Christmas Day, the highest mark among all players with at least four appearances, and Tracy McGrady leads all players (minimum of two games played) with a 43.3-point average in three games.
7. Oscar Robertson is the all-time assist leader (145), followed by Kobe Bryant (85) and LeBron James (72).
8. Russell Westbrook tied the record for most steals in a game (6) last year against the Chicago Bulls.
9. Hall of Fame forward Bernard King set the single-game scoring record when he dropped 60 points against the New Jersey Nets in 1984. Kevin Durant (44 points in 2010) is the active leader.
10. This year will mark the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first Christmas Day appearance.
11. Thirty-seven players from outside the U.S. representing 22 countries are on the rosters of teams playing on Christmas Day this year.
12. Guy Rodgers and Nate “Tiny” Archibald are tied for the most assists in a single-game with 18, recorded in 1966 and 1972, respectively.
13. Scottie Pippen has the most steals in Christmas Day history (24 in seven games), followed by Russell Westbrook (20 in six games) and Dwyane Wade (19 in 11 games).
14. The Oklahoma City Thunder (4-13; 23.5%) have the worst Christmas Day winning percentage of teams that have played more than five games.
15. Starting with a game against the Phoenix Suns during his rookie season and ending with last year’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Kobe Bryant played the most Christmas Day games in NBA history (16) over the course of his 20-year career. Dwyane Wade leads all active players (11), followed by Udonis Haslem and LeBron James (10).
Kobe Bryant moves the ball against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball ...more
16. Wilt Chamberlain grabbed 36 rebounds in 1961 against the New York Knicks, setting a Christmas Day record that still stands.
17. DeAndre Jordan broke Elvin Hayes’ 31-year-old record when he blocked eight shots against the Golden State Warriors in 2011.
18. Bill Russell is the all-time leader in Christmas Day rebounds with 176 in eight games.
19. The winners of the past eight NBA MVP Awards and the previous nine scoring titles are scheduled to play in this year’s games.
20. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Patrick Ewing hitting a buzzer beater to give the New York Knicks an 86-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls in what was one of the NBA’s most memorable Christmas Day games.
21. This is the ninth consecutive year that the NBA will play five games on Christmas Day.
22. Shaquille O’Neal blocked 25 shots in 13 Christmas Day games — the most of all-time. Among active players, DeAndre Jordan (five games) and Dwight Howard (seven games) are third and fourth on the list with 19 and 18 blocks, respectively.
23. Five players — Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Billy Cunningham, John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson — have recorded a triple-double on Christmas Day.
24. The lockout-shortened 2011 NBA season opened on Christmas Day, starting with a game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.
25. The Miami Heat (10-2; 83.3%) have the best Christmas Day winning percentage.
Kobe was a slam dunk champion.
A bunch of super wealthy aloof old anglo saxons.
Mask the Golden State Cleveland game on Xmas is gonna be marketed as a Finals preview. But in over 70 years of basketball there has never been 2 teams to meet in 3 straight Finals. I dont see this year being any different. 1 of the 2 or both wont make it. Remember KingTaharqa told you on Xmas Eve '16.
NIKE BASKETBALL WHITE AND GOLD PLAYER EXCLUSIVES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY
For the NBA Christmas Day tips off this Sunday, Nike Basketball will be lacing up their players with two special edition White and Gold silhouettes.
The Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Low Christmas Day PE and the Nike Hypershift Christmas Day PE. Both feature a White-based upper with Metallic Gold Nike Swoosh branding. The Hypershift also features a Crimson NikeSwoosh logo on the outsole.
Check out the detailed images below and stay tuned to Sneaker Bar for more Nike PEs to come for this Sunday’s big games.
For the NBA Christmas Day tips off this Sunday, Nike Basketball will be lacing up their players with two special edition White and Gold silhouettes.
The Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Low Christmas Day PE and the Nike Hypershift Christmas Day PE. Both feature a White-based upper with Metallic Gold Nike Swoosh branding. The Hypershift also features a Crimson NikeSwoosh logo on the outsole.
Check out the detailed images below and stay tuned to Sneaker Bar for more Nike PEs to come for this Sunday’s big games.
Westbrook, Warriors, and Cavaliers: 3 things to watch on Christmas (VIDEO)
Christmas Day is upon us and that means it’s time to hope there’s as much loot as possible in your stocking and that you’re left alone to do what everyone wants to do on a day like this: watch basketball.
In fact, there’s a full slate of games on Christmas in the NBA, including the one everyone is anticipating in a rematch of the 2016 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
I have three things I want to see in particular on Christmas as I try to avoid my one uncle who always seems to drink too much eggnog and talk my ear off saying look, Dane, I know it’s your job and everything but the NBA was absolutely better in the ’90s because of hand-checking, OK?
I’m just hoping underneath the tree this year is a pair of much-needed ear muffs.
Russell Westbrook vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves Defense
Russell Westbrook is an absolute monster. I think we all know that by now as the Oklahoma City Thunder guard is averaging at triple-double. No, the Thunder offense isn’t remarkable outside of Westbrook — ranked just 15th of 30 — but the Timberwolves defense is bottom 5 and that should be fun to watch no matter what.
What else do you want to see on Sunday other than a man trying to ruin someone else’s Christmas by dunking every single one of his 44 points?
Plus, Karl-Anthony Towns!
Christmas Carmelo Anthony vs. the Boston Celtics
Here isCarmelo Anthony’s point totals from his last four Christmas Day games: 34, 34, 37, 32.
It’s easy to say that I want to watch this game because of the offensive firepower between the Celtics and Carmelo, so I will. The New York Knicks in each of those four games have a record of 1-3, but Boston has the 14th-ranked defense in the NBA. The Celtics are also bringing a Top 10 offense headed by Isiah Thomas.
The only thing about this one is that it might be too much scoring too early in the morning for me to enjoy this one. I’m going to be in a robe on my parents’ couch while Carmelo and Thomas might combine for 70 before I’ve had a bagel.
Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers II: Electric Boogaloo
This is what we all came to see. It’s what I’ll be watching at 11:30 AM PST here on the West Coast through bites of whatever syrupy, waffle-and-whipped cream dessert thing we have Christmas morning I’ll unconvincingly tell my girlfriend is actually just a light brunch.
Kevin Durant — as you may remember — was on the Thunder last season and now (gasp!) has joined forces with Stephen Curry,Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to try and slay the dragon that is LeBron Jamesand his band of merry men (read: J.R. Smith).
Narratives aside, this is likely to be the best actual basketball game of the day from an execution and competition standpoint, and very well could be a 2017 NBA Finals preview.
So we’ll see you on Sunday, phone in hand and checking scores as you try to seem grateful for the third Slap Chop you’ve unwrapped in as many years while sneaking peeks at the TV.
And hey, the best thing about that 11:30 AM Warriors – Cavaliers game?
It’s still too early for eggnog.
Full schedule:
Knicks vs. Celtics | 9:00 AM PST on ESPN
Warriors vs. Cavaliers | 11:30 AM PST on ABC
Bulls vs. Spurs | 2:00 PM PST on ABC
Timberwolves vs. Thunder | 5:00 PM PST on ESPN
Clippers vs. Lakers | 7:30 PM PST on ESPN
Christmas Day is upon us and that means it’s time to hope there’s as much loot as possible in your stocking and that you’re left alone to do what everyone wants to do on a day like this: watch basketball.
In fact, there’s a full slate of games on Christmas in the NBA, including the one everyone is anticipating in a rematch of the 2016 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
I have three things I want to see in particular on Christmas as I try to avoid my one uncle who always seems to drink too much eggnog and talk my ear off saying look, Dane, I know it’s your job and everything but the NBA was absolutely better in the ’90s because of hand-checking, OK?
I’m just hoping underneath the tree this year is a pair of much-needed ear muffs.
Russell Westbrook vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves Defense
Russell Westbrook is an absolute monster. I think we all know that by now as the Oklahoma City Thunder guard is averaging at triple-double. No, the Thunder offense isn’t remarkable outside of Westbrook — ranked just 15th of 30 — but the Timberwolves defense is bottom 5 and that should be fun to watch no matter what.
What else do you want to see on Sunday other than a man trying to ruin someone else’s Christmas by dunking every single one of his 44 points?
Plus, Karl-Anthony Towns!
Christmas Carmelo Anthony vs. the Boston Celtics
Here isCarmelo Anthony’s point totals from his last four Christmas Day games: 34, 34, 37, 32.
It’s easy to say that I want to watch this game because of the offensive firepower between the Celtics and Carmelo, so I will. The New York Knicks in each of those four games have a record of 1-3, but Boston has the 14th-ranked defense in the NBA. The Celtics are also bringing a Top 10 offense headed by Isiah Thomas.
The only thing about this one is that it might be too much scoring too early in the morning for me to enjoy this one. I’m going to be in a robe on my parents’ couch while Carmelo and Thomas might combine for 70 before I’ve had a bagel.
Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers II: Electric Boogaloo
This is what we all came to see. It’s what I’ll be watching at 11:30 AM PST here on the West Coast through bites of whatever syrupy, waffle-and-whipped cream dessert thing we have Christmas morning I’ll unconvincingly tell my girlfriend is actually just a light brunch.
Kevin Durant — as you may remember — was on the Thunder last season and now (gasp!) has joined forces with Stephen Curry,Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to try and slay the dragon that is LeBron Jamesand his band of merry men (read: J.R. Smith).
Narratives aside, this is likely to be the best actual basketball game of the day from an execution and competition standpoint, and very well could be a 2017 NBA Finals preview.
So we’ll see you on Sunday, phone in hand and checking scores as you try to seem grateful for the third Slap Chop you’ve unwrapped in as many years while sneaking peeks at the TV.
And hey, the best thing about that 11:30 AM Warriors – Cavaliers game?
It’s still too early for eggnog.
Full schedule:
Knicks vs. Celtics | 9:00 AM PST on ESPN
Warriors vs. Cavaliers | 11:30 AM PST on ABC
Bulls vs. Spurs | 2:00 PM PST on ABC
Timberwolves vs. Thunder | 5:00 PM PST on ESPN
Clippers vs. Lakers | 7:30 PM PST on ESPN
Been away for a hot min, but let me get you guys up to speed on my thoughts..
So far the season is as expected, the Warriors are a well oil machine with a few hiccups, and the Cavs look like they are sailing along on cruse control and seem more interested in getting to the off season healthy (I wonder how much Popovich and his success over LeBron James led teams have anything to do with this approach.)
Right now I still think both teams are both evenly matched, but the Cavs have on new concern for me, and that is their lack of big men.
Whats ironic is this has always been my biggest critic on the Warriors in the past, and even now teams who can dribble penetrate to attack the rim while being able to hit the outside shot seems to be their only chink in their armor especially on defense..
But now this also seem to be a weakness of the Cavs, and as I said during the off-season, for those who remember, the Warriors getting McGee may be a huge move on their part and in actuality may be the thing that separates the two teams.
I think tomorrow's game between the two should be a fun game, but like most NBA games these days, it probably will go to the team that hits the most three's, David Stern should be happy about how he changed the game, I'm not.
But what I am looking for is the games with in the games, for one I will like to see how the Cavs plan on attacking the paint especially with McGee in there (I would make sure to put Fry in the game when he is playing just to pull him out), which leads to my next interesting thing about the game, how would the defend McGee with Fry and how much will the Warriors be willing to go to him if he is indeed matched up vs Fry.
I will like to also see who is going to defend Durant, and how aggressive Love is going to be. But overall I think these in game games may be just as much if not more interesting than who actually wins or loses.
Becasue at this point both teams have to know that they most likely will be playing each other for the finals, again.
So far the season is as expected, the Warriors are a well oil machine with a few hiccups, and the Cavs look like they are sailing along on cruse control and seem more interested in getting to the off season healthy (I wonder how much Popovich and his success over LeBron James led teams have anything to do with this approach.)
Right now I still think both teams are both evenly matched, but the Cavs have on new concern for me, and that is their lack of big men.
Whats ironic is this has always been my biggest critic on the Warriors in the past, and even now teams who can dribble penetrate to attack the rim while being able to hit the outside shot seems to be their only chink in their armor especially on defense..
But now this also seem to be a weakness of the Cavs, and as I said during the off-season, for those who remember, the Warriors getting McGee may be a huge move on their part and in actuality may be the thing that separates the two teams.
I think tomorrow's game between the two should be a fun game, but like most NBA games these days, it probably will go to the team that hits the most three's, David Stern should be happy about how he changed the game, I'm not.
But what I am looking for is the games with in the games, for one I will like to see how the Cavs plan on attacking the paint especially with McGee in there (I would make sure to put Fry in the game when he is playing just to pull him out), which leads to my next interesting thing about the game, how would the defend McGee with Fry and how much will the Warriors be willing to go to him if he is indeed matched up vs Fry.
I will like to also see who is going to defend Durant, and how aggressive Love is going to be. But overall I think these in game games may be just as much if not more interesting than who actually wins or loses.
Becasue at this point both teams have to know that they most likely will be playing each other for the finals, again.
Curious, are you making these statements only based off the history of the NBA? And if not, can you give detailed reasons why you dont think 1 or both will make it back to the finals...
I've got the Celtics, Warriors, Spurs, Thunder & Clippers.
But I went 6-8 on Friday, so what the hell do I know?
BGOL 2017 NBA Basketball Pool
But I went 6-8 on Friday, so what the hell do I know?
BGOL 2017 NBA Basketball Pool
The Cavs And Warriors Might Be Doing This Finals Thing For A Long Time
When the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors meet on Christmas Day, each does so as a heavy favorite to reach the NBA Finals for a third-straight season, something that’s never been done by a pair of teams in the NBA’s 70-year history.
But while it’s natural to focus on the current season, and to see if the clubs set a new standard by meeting for a third-consecutive summer, it’s also reasonable to think it could be years before anyone supplants them in the finals, because of their youth.
The last two teams to meet in back-to-back finals, the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, were much older at the time of their first meeting than the Cavs and Warriors were for theirs. San Antonio had an average weighted1 age of 28.6 years; Miami’s was 30.3 years old. Before them, the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz of 1996-97 and 1997-98 were the only other set of back-to-back finals foes from the past two decades. The Bulls were 30.7 years old on average at the start of their championship-round showdowns, and the Jazz were 29.6, per ESPN Stats & Information Group.
The Cavs and Warriors, by contrast, were on average just 26.9 and 26.6 years old, respectively, when they first met in the finals back in 2015, making them the third-youngest repeat finalists ever, behind the Knicks and Minneapolis Lakers from 1951 and 1952, and the Washington Bullets and Seattle Sonics from 1977 and 1978. Put another way: The NBA hasn’t seen back-to-back finals foes as young as Cleveland and Golden State in about 40 years.2
YEARS EAST TEAM WEIGHTED AGE WEST TEAM WEIGHTED AGE AVG.
1951-52 New York Knicks 25.5 Minneapolis Lakers 25.9 25.7
1977-78 Washington Bullets 27.4 Seattle Sonics 26.0 26.7
2014-15 Cleveland Cavaliers 26.9 Golden State Warriors 26.6 26.8
1961-62 Boston Celtics 27.9 Los Angeles Lakers 25.9 26.9
1956-57 Boston Celtics 27.0 St. Louis Hawks 27.6 27.3
1964-65 Boston Celtics 28.3 Los Angeles Lakers 26.4 27.4
1981-82 Philadelphia 76ers 28.1 Los Angeles Lakers 26.8 27.5
1983-84 Boston Celtics 28.0 Los Angeles Lakers 27.5 27.5
1959-60 Boston Celtics 27.5 St. Louis Hawks 27.5 27.5
1987-88 Detroit Pistons 27.4 Los Angeles Lakers 28.9 28.2
1967-68 Boston Celtics 29.5 Los Angeles Lakers 27.8 28.7
1971-72 New York Knicks 28.8 Los Angeles Lakers 29.5 29.2
2012-13 Miami Heat 30.3 San Antonio Spurs 28.6 29.5
1996-97 Chicago Bulls 30.7 Utah Jazz 29.6 30.2
Back-to-back finals foes, by youngest average age
Ages calculated from the start of each teams’ two-year run to the NBA Finals.
Source: ESPN Stats & Information Group
Rematches in the NBA Finals aren’t all that unusual. There have been 14 back-to-back occasions throughout league history. But they were a lot more common in decades past, when the league had far fewer teams and little enough competitive balance to see the Celtics and Lakers meet in the finals six times in eight years.
It also helped that powerhouse teams from those eras could stay intact since salary capsand unrestricted free agency didn’t take root until the mid- to late-1980s.
The Warriors and Cavs, despite their willingness to spend, aren’t totally immune to those choices. Golden State, for instance, may be forced to part with one of its better players (likely free-agent-to-be Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston) in order to give Steph Curry and Kevin Durant the maxsalaries they deserve.
And while Cleveland has almost all of its top players inked for the foreseeable future (LeBron James can opt out in 2018), Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert paid $54 million to cover the Cavs’ league-high luxury-tax bill. (Granted, the tax helped the Cavs earn the city’s first major pro sports title in 52 years. But a looming, costly repeater tax could eventually cost Gilbert more than $100 millionif the Cavs opt to keep their roster together long term.) In the shorter term, the Raptors also are a threat. According to our NBA forecast, they have a 34 percent chance of winning the East, just behind the Cavs’ 37 percent, as of Thursday. (The Warriors have a 59 percent chance of reaching the finals, and there’s about a 22 percent chance of a Warriors-Cavs final.)
But stepping back for a minute, there’s still reason to think the Warriors and Cavs are a solid bet to face each other again in the finals for years to come.
For starters, there’s the fact that these clubs have already been playing at a high level for years. They currently rank second all-time among back-to-back finals participants in combined win percentage over a three-season span, just behind the Bulls and Jazz from the 1995-96 season to 1997-98, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Chicago and Utah had a .780 win percentage during their window; the Cavs and Warriors are at .770. (Similarly, with a look at theharmonic mean of the Cavs and Warriors’ Elo ratings — a system used to rate the strength of teams over time — we see that over the last two-plus-years, they trail only the Jazz and Bulls’ run in terms of teams that have played in consecutive finals.)
And obviously the magnitude of the Durant signing can’t be overstated. Aside from the fact that the Warriors vastly improved their starting five, somehow becoming even less guardable than before, it’s also important to look at how that signing changed the landscape of things out West.
By acquiring him, Golden State not only kept Durant from joining a 67-win Spurs team or astar-studded Clippers club (both of whom met with Durant as he mulled his options as a free agent) but also poached him from Oklahoma City, a team that nearly eliminated the Warriors last season and arguably stood as their biggest long-term threat.
In Cleveland’s case, James alone gives them a good shot at returning to the finals, given that he’s reached six in a row, and has shown before that he doesn’t necessarily need both his co-stars at full strength to get there. The real question is how long James, who’s never had a serious injury that forced him to miss considerable time, can play at an all-world level.
James turns 32 in a week, and has taken on a heavy load of playing time, both this seasonand over his career; one in which he’s already logged more career minutes than Larry Bird did during his before retiring at age 35. (The other top seven Warriors and Cavs’ players in win shares — Durant, Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson — have far less tread, and are 28 or younger.)
From the looks of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which still needs to be ratified but which the owners and players’ union tentatively agreed to last week, it doesn’t look as if there will be real impediments to the Warriors’ and Cavs’ being able to stay together for the next few years. In fact, the framework of the agreement contains some elements that might actually help Golden State keep its star playersdespite the fact that some believed the opposite might take place after commissionerAdam Silver expressed concern with the rise of superteams after Durant chose to join the Warriors.
In any case, even with months to go, it wouldn’t be surprising to anyone if the Cavs and Warriors make history to reach the finals a third-straight time. At this point, the better question might be how long they can keep the streak going.
CORRECTION: (Dec. 23, 12:11 p.m.): A previous version of this article misstated the years the Bulls and Jazz and the Heat and Spurs played back-to-back Finals. The correct years were 1994-95 and 1995-96 for Chicago and Utah, and 2012-13 and 2013-14 for San Antonio and Miami.
When the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors meet on Christmas Day, each does so as a heavy favorite to reach the NBA Finals for a third-straight season, something that’s never been done by a pair of teams in the NBA’s 70-year history.
But while it’s natural to focus on the current season, and to see if the clubs set a new standard by meeting for a third-consecutive summer, it’s also reasonable to think it could be years before anyone supplants them in the finals, because of their youth.
The last two teams to meet in back-to-back finals, the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, were much older at the time of their first meeting than the Cavs and Warriors were for theirs. San Antonio had an average weighted1 age of 28.6 years; Miami’s was 30.3 years old. Before them, the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz of 1996-97 and 1997-98 were the only other set of back-to-back finals foes from the past two decades. The Bulls were 30.7 years old on average at the start of their championship-round showdowns, and the Jazz were 29.6, per ESPN Stats & Information Group.
The Cavs and Warriors, by contrast, were on average just 26.9 and 26.6 years old, respectively, when they first met in the finals back in 2015, making them the third-youngest repeat finalists ever, behind the Knicks and Minneapolis Lakers from 1951 and 1952, and the Washington Bullets and Seattle Sonics from 1977 and 1978. Put another way: The NBA hasn’t seen back-to-back finals foes as young as Cleveland and Golden State in about 40 years.2
YEARS EAST TEAM WEIGHTED AGE WEST TEAM WEIGHTED AGE AVG.
1951-52 New York Knicks 25.5 Minneapolis Lakers 25.9 25.7
1977-78 Washington Bullets 27.4 Seattle Sonics 26.0 26.7
2014-15 Cleveland Cavaliers 26.9 Golden State Warriors 26.6 26.8
1961-62 Boston Celtics 27.9 Los Angeles Lakers 25.9 26.9
1956-57 Boston Celtics 27.0 St. Louis Hawks 27.6 27.3
1964-65 Boston Celtics 28.3 Los Angeles Lakers 26.4 27.4
1981-82 Philadelphia 76ers 28.1 Los Angeles Lakers 26.8 27.5
1983-84 Boston Celtics 28.0 Los Angeles Lakers 27.5 27.5
1959-60 Boston Celtics 27.5 St. Louis Hawks 27.5 27.5
1987-88 Detroit Pistons 27.4 Los Angeles Lakers 28.9 28.2
1967-68 Boston Celtics 29.5 Los Angeles Lakers 27.8 28.7
1971-72 New York Knicks 28.8 Los Angeles Lakers 29.5 29.2
2012-13 Miami Heat 30.3 San Antonio Spurs 28.6 29.5
1996-97 Chicago Bulls 30.7 Utah Jazz 29.6 30.2
Back-to-back finals foes, by youngest average age
Ages calculated from the start of each teams’ two-year run to the NBA Finals.
Source: ESPN Stats & Information Group
Rematches in the NBA Finals aren’t all that unusual. There have been 14 back-to-back occasions throughout league history. But they were a lot more common in decades past, when the league had far fewer teams and little enough competitive balance to see the Celtics and Lakers meet in the finals six times in eight years.
It also helped that powerhouse teams from those eras could stay intact since salary capsand unrestricted free agency didn’t take root until the mid- to late-1980s.
The Warriors and Cavs, despite their willingness to spend, aren’t totally immune to those choices. Golden State, for instance, may be forced to part with one of its better players (likely free-agent-to-be Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston) in order to give Steph Curry and Kevin Durant the maxsalaries they deserve.
And while Cleveland has almost all of its top players inked for the foreseeable future (LeBron James can opt out in 2018), Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert paid $54 million to cover the Cavs’ league-high luxury-tax bill. (Granted, the tax helped the Cavs earn the city’s first major pro sports title in 52 years. But a looming, costly repeater tax could eventually cost Gilbert more than $100 millionif the Cavs opt to keep their roster together long term.) In the shorter term, the Raptors also are a threat. According to our NBA forecast, they have a 34 percent chance of winning the East, just behind the Cavs’ 37 percent, as of Thursday. (The Warriors have a 59 percent chance of reaching the finals, and there’s about a 22 percent chance of a Warriors-Cavs final.)
But stepping back for a minute, there’s still reason to think the Warriors and Cavs are a solid bet to face each other again in the finals for years to come.
For starters, there’s the fact that these clubs have already been playing at a high level for years. They currently rank second all-time among back-to-back finals participants in combined win percentage over a three-season span, just behind the Bulls and Jazz from the 1995-96 season to 1997-98, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Chicago and Utah had a .780 win percentage during their window; the Cavs and Warriors are at .770. (Similarly, with a look at theharmonic mean of the Cavs and Warriors’ Elo ratings — a system used to rate the strength of teams over time — we see that over the last two-plus-years, they trail only the Jazz and Bulls’ run in terms of teams that have played in consecutive finals.)
And obviously the magnitude of the Durant signing can’t be overstated. Aside from the fact that the Warriors vastly improved their starting five, somehow becoming even less guardable than before, it’s also important to look at how that signing changed the landscape of things out West.
By acquiring him, Golden State not only kept Durant from joining a 67-win Spurs team or astar-studded Clippers club (both of whom met with Durant as he mulled his options as a free agent) but also poached him from Oklahoma City, a team that nearly eliminated the Warriors last season and arguably stood as their biggest long-term threat.
In Cleveland’s case, James alone gives them a good shot at returning to the finals, given that he’s reached six in a row, and has shown before that he doesn’t necessarily need both his co-stars at full strength to get there. The real question is how long James, who’s never had a serious injury that forced him to miss considerable time, can play at an all-world level.
James turns 32 in a week, and has taken on a heavy load of playing time, both this seasonand over his career; one in which he’s already logged more career minutes than Larry Bird did during his before retiring at age 35. (The other top seven Warriors and Cavs’ players in win shares — Durant, Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson — have far less tread, and are 28 or younger.)
From the looks of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which still needs to be ratified but which the owners and players’ union tentatively agreed to last week, it doesn’t look as if there will be real impediments to the Warriors’ and Cavs’ being able to stay together for the next few years. In fact, the framework of the agreement contains some elements that might actually help Golden State keep its star playersdespite the fact that some believed the opposite might take place after commissionerAdam Silver expressed concern with the rise of superteams after Durant chose to join the Warriors.
In any case, even with months to go, it wouldn’t be surprising to anyone if the Cavs and Warriors make history to reach the finals a third-straight time. At this point, the better question might be how long they can keep the streak going.
CORRECTION: (Dec. 23, 12:11 p.m.): A previous version of this article misstated the years the Bulls and Jazz and the Heat and Spurs played back-to-back Finals. The correct years were 1994-95 and 1995-96 for Chicago and Utah, and 2012-13 and 2013-14 for San Antonio and Miami.
Brightest NBA stars in action on Christmas Day
play
NBA stars are ready for Christmas clashes (0:59)
9:56 PM CT
The NBA schedule on Christmas Dayconsists of five games on ESPN or ABC:
Plenty of star power
In terms of sheer star power, the Christmas Day slate will deliver. Twenty-five players who have made an All-NBA team and 29 players who have made an All-Star team could potentially suit up.
Four of the five active former MVPs --Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Derrick Rose -- are expected to play. All five first-team All-NBA selections from last season -- Curry, James, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and DeAndre Jordan -- will be on display.
Every active player who has won a scoring title is playing as well.
Emerging stars who are not listed above include Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram.
LeBron is home for the holidays
LeBron has rarely been home for Christmas lately, but when he is, he doesn’t lose. James is 3-0 in home games on Christmas, including 2-0 with the Cavs. This is the first time James will be in Cleveland for Christmas since 2008.
The Cavs have never lost at home on Christmas. They are 5-0, tied with theMiami Heat for the most wins without a loss on Christmas Day in NBA history.
How the Grinch stole Steph
Curry has played five times on Christmas and averaged over 35 minutes per game. He has scored 11.2 points per game on 28 percent shooting and has more than four times as many turnovers (17) as he does made 3-pointers (four) in those games.
Curry has been held to under 20 points in all five of his Christmas games. Of all the dates he has played on more than twice (and there are over 100 of them), Christmas is the day he has averaged the fewest points per game.
Wade the active leader
With Kobe Bryant retired, it’s Dwyane Wade -- not LeBron -- who is the active king on Christmas Day. Wade leads active players in both games played and points on Dec. 25. Wade will be playing his 12th game on Christmas, which will tie him for fifth-most in NBA history.
Wade ranks third all-time in points on Christmas (277) behind Bryant (395) and Oscar Robertson (377). He could, however, get passed by James, who sits just seven points back at 270 in fifth. James will likely pass Shaquille O’Neal (272) as well.
Westbrook’s stocking stuffers
Westbrook had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on Christmas in 2013. It was his seventh career triple-double and the eighth triple-double on Christmas in NBA history. Nobody has had one since then.
Should Westbrook get another one, he would be the second player in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles on Christmas. The other is Robertson, who had four between 1960 and 1967.
While most fans will focus on his points, rebounds and assists, watch out for Westbrook’s steals. He had six on Christmas last year and has 20 for his career on Christmas, which ranks second all time. He has a chance to pass Scottie Pippen (24 in seven games) to become the all-time Christmas leader in steals.
Christmas is about the kids
No team in NBA history has ever had more than one player 21 or younger average 20 points per game. Minnesota has three of them.
No team in NBA history has ever had more than one player 21 or younger score at least 20 points on Christmas. Towns, Wiggins and LaVine have all scored at least 20 in the same game three times this season. At least two of them have done it in the same game on 17 different occasions.
Towns, Wiggins and LaVine are the highest-scoring 21-or-younger trio in NBA history. The team that held that distinction previously is the one they are facing on Christmas, though Westbrook is the only player remaining from what was once a high-scoring trio that included Durant and James Harden.
The Lakers are always on
Though they are in the midst of the one of the worst months in franchise history, the Lakers are feeling the Christmas cheer for the 18th straight season. They have played on Christmas every season since 1999-2000. It’s the second-longest streak of its kind in NBA history.
Christmas without Kobe is going to be strange for the Lakers. This is the first time they will play a Christmas game without Bryant on the roster since 1991, which was also a game against the Clippers.
The last time the Lakers played a Christmas game with Bryant not on the team, Jordan Clarkson, Ingram, Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and Julius Randle were not born yet. Coach Luke Walton was 11 years old.
NBA stars are ready for Christmas clashes (0:59)
9:56 PM CT
The NBA schedule on Christmas Dayconsists of five games on ESPN or ABC:
- Boston Celtics at New York Knicks(noon ET, ESPN)
- Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (2:30 p.m., ABC)
- Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs(5 p.m., ABC)
- Minnesota Timberwolves atOklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m., ESPN)
- LA Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers(10:30 p.m., ESPN)
Plenty of star power
In terms of sheer star power, the Christmas Day slate will deliver. Twenty-five players who have made an All-NBA team and 29 players who have made an All-Star team could potentially suit up.
Four of the five active former MVPs --Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Derrick Rose -- are expected to play. All five first-team All-NBA selections from last season -- Curry, James, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and DeAndre Jordan -- will be on display.
Every active player who has won a scoring title is playing as well.
Emerging stars who are not listed above include Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram.
LeBron is home for the holidays
LeBron has rarely been home for Christmas lately, but when he is, he doesn’t lose. James is 3-0 in home games on Christmas, including 2-0 with the Cavs. This is the first time James will be in Cleveland for Christmas since 2008.
The Cavs have never lost at home on Christmas. They are 5-0, tied with theMiami Heat for the most wins without a loss on Christmas Day in NBA history.
How the Grinch stole Steph
Curry has played five times on Christmas and averaged over 35 minutes per game. He has scored 11.2 points per game on 28 percent shooting and has more than four times as many turnovers (17) as he does made 3-pointers (four) in those games.
Curry has been held to under 20 points in all five of his Christmas games. Of all the dates he has played on more than twice (and there are over 100 of them), Christmas is the day he has averaged the fewest points per game.
Wade the active leader
With Kobe Bryant retired, it’s Dwyane Wade -- not LeBron -- who is the active king on Christmas Day. Wade leads active players in both games played and points on Dec. 25. Wade will be playing his 12th game on Christmas, which will tie him for fifth-most in NBA history.
Wade ranks third all-time in points on Christmas (277) behind Bryant (395) and Oscar Robertson (377). He could, however, get passed by James, who sits just seven points back at 270 in fifth. James will likely pass Shaquille O’Neal (272) as well.
Westbrook’s stocking stuffers
Westbrook had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on Christmas in 2013. It was his seventh career triple-double and the eighth triple-double on Christmas in NBA history. Nobody has had one since then.
Should Westbrook get another one, he would be the second player in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles on Christmas. The other is Robertson, who had four between 1960 and 1967.
While most fans will focus on his points, rebounds and assists, watch out for Westbrook’s steals. He had six on Christmas last year and has 20 for his career on Christmas, which ranks second all time. He has a chance to pass Scottie Pippen (24 in seven games) to become the all-time Christmas leader in steals.
Christmas is about the kids
No team in NBA history has ever had more than one player 21 or younger average 20 points per game. Minnesota has three of them.
No team in NBA history has ever had more than one player 21 or younger score at least 20 points on Christmas. Towns, Wiggins and LaVine have all scored at least 20 in the same game three times this season. At least two of them have done it in the same game on 17 different occasions.
Towns, Wiggins and LaVine are the highest-scoring 21-or-younger trio in NBA history. The team that held that distinction previously is the one they are facing on Christmas, though Westbrook is the only player remaining from what was once a high-scoring trio that included Durant and James Harden.
The Lakers are always on
Though they are in the midst of the one of the worst months in franchise history, the Lakers are feeling the Christmas cheer for the 18th straight season. They have played on Christmas every season since 1999-2000. It’s the second-longest streak of its kind in NBA history.
Christmas without Kobe is going to be strange for the Lakers. This is the first time they will play a Christmas game without Bryant on the roster since 1991, which was also a game against the Clippers.
The last time the Lakers played a Christmas game with Bryant not on the team, Jordan Clarkson, Ingram, Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and Julius Randle were not born yet. Coach Luke Walton was 11 years old.
Its based off the history of the NBA and the fact the NBA is an entertainment business. Seeing the same 2 teams in the Finals every year is not entertaining and decreases chances for story lines in the future. Warriors Cavs is nowhere near the greatest rivalry in NBA history and yet none of the others from Lakers, Celtics, etc ever played in 3 straight. Its not an xs and os thing, its a business thing. Read Tim Donaghys book for more clarity.
Fa sho...actually I think the nba could miss out on a huge opportunity if these teams don't make it. There's story lines for days.
Ok I understand that; but GS/Cavs will has the games biggest stars and will give the game the highest ratings; I just dont see any other team, from a ratings stand point, producing higher; Also this aint the 80s bro; league has drastically changed since then; And barring a major injury , I dont see any teams out there beating any of the 2
I had a hot dolla on clevaland
U mad the warriors and cavs will be bigger than and other rivalry?
Big games James ain't doing that shit on draymond green + he not lockin up KD
Larry bird sticking Lebron? LMAO
Big games James ain't doing that shit on draymond green + he not lockin up KD
Larry bird sticking Lebron? LMAO
