Christmas Day Basketball | Legends of The Hobby

The Greatest Games from the League’s Marquee Day

Basketball’s marquee regular season event has long been Christmas Day. Beginning in 1947, when New York beat Providence 89-75, this tradition has long highlighted the game’s best players, and the game’s most talented young prospects. The likes of Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, LeBron James all led their teams on the holiday early in their careers – a tradition that rising star of The Hobby Victor Wembanyama continues this year, with San Antonio taking on New York.

Star power and The Hobby are entwined, and the leading lights of the modern basketball hobby are routinely rolled out for the holiday program. Christmas Day offers a chance for collectors to get a glimpse at The Hobby’s biggest stars on the regular season’s biggest stage. Let’s take a look at some of the best games in the history of this storied tradition.

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The Best of Christmas Day Basketball

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1961: Wilt Goes Off, Comes Up Short

Chamberlain averaged a preposterous 50.4 PPG in 1961-62, and it would be the year of his famous 100-point game as well. But, the big man also showed out on Christmas Day, putting up 59 points to go along with 36 rebounds. Wilt and Philadelphia lost the double-overtime tilt to New York 136-135.

1974/75 Topps Basketball #250 Wilt Chamberlain

1984: Bernard King Goes for 60 at the Garden

One of the most flamboyant players in league history, King was in the midst of his greatest season when he took on New Jersey at MSG in 1984. King dropped 40 points in a first half King described as “the greatest first half I ever played in my career.” Perhaps the defining individual performance in Christmas Day history, King was at the peak of his considerable powers. King’s team lost the game, but he would go onto win the scoring title that year.

1978/79 Topps Basketball #75 Bernard King RC

1986: Jordan and Ewing Dual

By Christmas 1986, Michael Jordan was on his way to becoming an absolute juggernaut. He came into the game against New York averaging 37.7 PPG. Making his holiday debut, Jordan was utterly dazzling, scoring 30 points, swiping six steals, dishing five assists, while lighting up MSG with an array of highlight-reel efforts. Ewing, a much-hyped prospect himself, had made waves with his own X-Mas Day debut as a rookie the previous season, defeating Boston. He got the last laugh on this occasion too, his deft tip-in at the buzzer giving New York an 86-85 win.

1996/97 Topps Chrome Basketball Refractors #139R Michael Jordan

2004: Shaq and Kobe Square Off

Shaq had demanded a trade earlier that summer, a tumultuous end to Los Angeles’ successful run with he and Kobe at the helm. The highly anticipated battle between the two warring superstars delivered. Kobe put up 42 points, while Shaq went for 24 along with 11 boards. Dwayne Wade’s 29 points and 10 assists gave Shaq and Miami the balance they needed to get the 104-102 overtime win.

1999/00 Topps Finest Basketball Double Feature #DF-14 Dual Refractors Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal

2016: A Game for the Ages, the Rivalry of an Era

On the heels of Cleveland’s miraculous comeback in the 2016 finals, the rematch with Golden State was as hyped as any matchup in Christmas Day history. Cleveland overcame a huge fourth-quarter deficit and defeated Curry, Durant and co. thanks to 31 points from LeBron and a ridiculous turnaround, fadeaway jumper from Kyrie Irving to put Cleveland ahead for good.

2003/04 Topps Chrome Basketball #111 LeBron James /50

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