NBA Christmas slate 2025

Ranking the five Christmas day games on the NBA schedule by watchability for 2025.

NBA's 5 Christmas games for 2025 ranked by watchability

The NBA's 2025 Christmas Day schedule consists of five games, and the lineup was leaked on Friday by ESPN insider Shams Charania. The slate blends veteran greatness with rising stars, featuring Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama and rookie Cooper Flagg, who turns 19 just before Christmas. Kyrie Irving will be sidelined for Dallas as he recovers from a torn ACL. Durant joins the Rockets and is expected to play a major role alongside a young, athletic supporting cast.

The five games, listed from 5 to 1 by watchability, are 5) Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors; 4) Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks; 3) Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers; 2) Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets; 1) San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder.

The five-game slate signals the NBA’s continued bet on star power to drive holiday viewing, pairing aging icons with young megastars who could shape the league for years. The Spurs versus Thunder headline with Victor Wembanyama poised to grow into a long-term focal point, while Jokic and Edwards remain the centerpiece of a compelling rivalry that has defined recent postseason drama. This mix aims to attract casual and devoted fans alike, even as it competes with a robust NFL schedule on the same day.

Yet the calendar also tests the league’s stamina. A dense lineup raises questions about player fatigue, injuries, and the potential for injuries to alter early-season narratives. Still, if this slate delivers, it could sharpen the season’s early storyline and boost national interest in multiple teams beyond the usual suspects.

Highlights

The holiday schedule sets the stage for a season full of drama and development