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NBA: Top 5 Christmas Performances

By Daniel Tran

Dec 15, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers hold Christmas gifts behind their back before a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers hold Christmas gifts behind their back before a game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 19, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons dance team perform in christmas outfits during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Raptors beat the Pistons 110-100. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

What have been the best individual performances in the NBA on Christmas day?

It is a Christmas tradition unlike any other. Not the copious amounts of eggnog Nana will inevitably consume or creepy Uncle Rich carrying around mistletoe to employ in the most awkward situations. It is watching NBA basketball while you unwrap your new pair of socks and find out where you get to spend your piles of gift cards. For NBA fans everywhere, ‘tis the season to be balling.

The NFL may have the monopoly on Thanksgiving, but the NBA has Christmas day sports on lockdown. The NHL give their players a break, the NFL is usually in the between game days, the MLB is in hibernation until the spring. The NBA is a lone performer on the sports stage and over the years, many great NBA players have had extraordinary acts on December 25th. Here are five of the greatest NBA performances on Christmas day.

Honorable Mention

Rick Barry, San Francisco Warriors, 1966 vs. Cincinnati Royals: Barry would become a player that everyone seemed to despise, but in 1966, he was just young gun that could put up some gaudy scoring numbers. Against the Royals on Christmas day in 1966, Barry made 19 field goals and shot 12-13 from the free-throw line to score 50 points in a 124-112 win. It was the highest scoring total ever on Christmas since Wilt Chamberlain’s Christmas performance in 1961.

Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors, 1961 vs. New York Knicks: It was not enough that Chamberlain poured in an unbelievable 59 points against the Knicks, he also grabbed a ridiculous 36 boards in a 135-136 double overtime loss, a Christmas day record that still stands today. So why does this performance not break the top five? The pace during the 1961-62 season was insane (126.2 estimated possessions per 48 minutes), the 7’1, 275-pound centers competition that Christmas was 6’10, 220-pound Darrall Imhoff and 6’10, 205-pound Phil Jordan, and, well, double overtime. Enough said.

Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns, 1993 vs. Houston Rockets: Sir Charles was coming off an MVP season where he led the Suns to the NBA Finals only to fall short against Michael Jordan’s Bulls. He took out some of that frustration on Christmas day against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets the following season, torching them with 38 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Suns would finish the game with a 111-91 win on Christmas Day.

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