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LeBron James will make his 20th appearance in an NBA Christmas Day game this week, solidifying his record for the most holiday matchups in league history. Despite the achievement, the Lakers star made it clear that he would rather spend the day relaxing with his family than being on the court.
"I'd much rather be at home with my family. But I mean, it's the game, it's the game that I love," James said. "It's a game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day, watching a lot of the greatest play the game on Christmas. It's always been an honor to play it." He added, "Obviously, I'm gonna be completely honest, I would like to be home on the couch with my family all throughout the day. But our number is called, so we have to go out and perform and I look forward to it."
Since his rookie season, James has rarely missed a Christmas game, sitting out only in 2006. Over his previous 19 appearances, he holds the record for the most wins on the holiday (11-8) and leads all players in Christmas points (507), steals (32), and field goals made (180). This year, the Lakers will face Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena, with James hoping to secure his 12th Christmas Day victory.
James's involvement in Christmas games dates back to 2007, when he played in the NBA's triple-header format. That season featured his Cavaliers facing Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal's Heat, while other high-profile games included Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum combining for 66 points against Phoenix.
Throughout his career, James has spoken about the challenges of missing family traditions due to his commitments on the court. In 2015, he reflected on the difficulties of playing six Christmas games in seven seasons while often on the road. Now, more than a decade later, he continues to recognize the trade-off between being part of the NBA's holiday showcase and enjoying time with loved ones.
"In the end, this is just another thing that LeBron James will be known for. No one will ever play more Christmas basketball than him," analysts observe. James has become synonymous with NBA Christmas games, and his eventual retirement will mark the end of an era for fans who have celebrated the holiday alongside him on the court.
