There’s no brighter stage in the NBA regular season than the Christmas Day showcase, when the spotlight will be shining on a day’s worth of games. You can read our preview of the day’s games right here.
So just like the Christmas holiday season tends to bring out the very best in people, the bright lights and the big stage of the Christmas games tend to bring out equally great performances from the league’s very best players. And with the magnitude of the occasion, these special feats live long in the collective memory of hoops fans.
Top 10 NBA Christmas Day Performances of All-Time
10. LeBron James (2010)
LeBron James’ first Christmas game post-Decision was quite a memorable one. King James didn’t drop some insane point total like most; he just delivered a complete 27 point, 11 rebound, 10 assist performance – his 31st career triple-double – as the Heat once again beat Kobe and the Lakers on Christmas.
9. Kobe Bryant (2004)
The Lakers lost their first Christmas duel with Shaquille O’Neal, whom they had traded to Miami in the offseason, but not due to Kobe Bryant’s lack of trying. The Mamba poured on 42 points and had 6 assists, but the Lakers still came up just short in overtime.
8. Dwyane Wade (2006)
The third installment of Kobe and Shaq’s Christmas Clash in 2006 fell through with Shaq injured. Instead, we got Kobe-Wade and it was Dwyane who emerged the unequivocal winner. Flash dropped 40 points – outscoring Kobe by 23 – and added 11 assists, 4 blocks and 4 steals as the defending champion Heat blew out the Lakers.
7. Michael Jordan (1992)
His Royal Airness obviously had a lot of great games throughout his storied career, and his most memorable Christmas game came back in 1992 against the New York Knicks. MJ had another sparkling line – 42-8-5 with 3 steals – to lead the Bulls to an 89-77 win.
6. Scottie Pippen (1994)
There was no Michael Jordan for Christmas in 1994, but Scottie Pippen put on an MJ-worthy performance against the Knicks. Pippen had 36 points – 7 of which were the only Bulls points in overtime – 16 rebounds, 5 steals, as well as two key blocks to preserve a 107-104 win.
5. Dominique Wilkins (1987)
Dominique Wilkins – fittingly dubbed “The Human Highlight Reel” – delivered a classic, 48 minute-long non-stop highlight against the 76ers on Christmas Day ’87. ‘Nique bested Charles Barkley that day with a scintillating 45 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in a Hawks win.
4. Rick Barry (1966)
Only a select few NBA players have dropped a nickel (50 points) on Dec. 25, and Rick Barry is one of those special people. The San Francisco Warriors star – you may know him from his underhand free throw shooting technique –outdueled the great Oscar Robertson with a big 50 during their Christmas day clash back in 1966.
3. Tracy McGrady (2002-03)
Nobody to date has matched what Tracy McGrady did in consecutive Christmas games. In 2002, T-Mac had a 46-point, 6-rebound game in a losing effort against the powerhouse Pistons. He followed it up the next Christmas with a 41-11-8 in LeBron’s first Christmas game in 2003 to beat the Cavs.
2. Wilt Chamberlain (1961)
One scoring record the great Wilt Chamberlain doesn’t own is for the most points scored in a Christmas Day game. Wilt’s just a close second with 59. But on that same Christmas night in 1961, Wilt did set the record for most Christmas game rebounds with 36. It’s probably safe to say that nobody is touching 59-36 on Dec. 25 any time soon. Maybe ever.
1. Bernard King (1984)
The King rules Christmas — not King James, but Bernard King. On Christmas Day of ‘84, the former Knicks legend completely eviscerated the New Jersey Nets en route to a Christmas Day record 60 points, a feat which stands to this very day.
Think we’re missing any of the best all time NBA holiday performances? Don’t think that LeBron’s showing in 2010 even deserves a sniff at this list? Get at us on Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus with your thoughts, and bet on all of this year’s Christmas Day games over at the sportsbook.
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