For years, Christmas Day was the biggest date for NBA basketball and the sport stood alone as the sole athletic entertainment of the holiday.
However, as recently as this decade, the NFL has challenged that and has played multiple games – even in years where Christmas didn’t fall on traditional days when the NFL plays (Thursday, Saturday [late in the season], Sunday, or Monday).
This move has angered NBA purists and commentators as an encroachment on what made the sport special.
On Christmas Day, one of those voicing their frustration was ‘Inside the NBA’ analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
The former NBA MVP pointed the finger directly at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell – going so far as to call him a ‘pig’ for the decision.
‘The NFL got greedy and started adding Christmas games,’ Barkley said during ESPN’s ‘NBA Tipoff’ on Thursday.
Charles Barkley criticized the NFL for encroaching on basketball’s Christmas tradition
Specifically, Barkley called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ‘greedy’ and a ‘pig’
‘We used to have this day to ourself, but Roger Goodell and them pigs at the NFL always want to hog every day of the week now. Christmas is an NBA day.’
In the past, the NFL would generally avoid playing on Christmas. However, when it lined up with the normal days the league played – especially Sunday – they would put on games.
However, since 2020, the league has held at least one game a year.
Last year, Netflix was able to awkwardly wedge a doubleheader into the holiday – despite the fact that Christmas fell on a Wednesday.
Netflix is paying the league $150million per year in order to broadcast two Christmas games.
This year, the streaming giant showcased the Dallas Cowboys at the Washington Commanders as well as the Detroit Lions at the Minnesota Vikings.
A third game – the Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs – was given the late-game treatment on Amazon Prime.
However, this is because the holiday fell on a Thursday this year – the day of the week where Amazon broadcasts its weekly ‘Thursday Night Football’ offering.
The NFL’s three games all featured backup quarterbacks, like the Chiefs’ Chris Oladokun (19)
Meanwhile, the NBA’s offerings included multiple intense matchups, like Denver-Minnesota
None of the games were particularly strong – especially with three of the six teams starting backup quarterbacks.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has missed a majority of the season and journeyman Josh Johnson couldn’t bring Washington to a victory.
Meanwhile, Vikings third-stringer Max Brosmer led Minnesota to an upset win over the Lions – eliminating Detroit in the process.
Finally, after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, Kansas City sent out Chris Oladokun. KC lost their fifth straight game.
As for the NBA, this is the 78th year the association held games on Christmas.
After a big comeback from the New York Knicks to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, the San Antonio Spurs dominated the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder.
Then, in the later games, the Houston Rockets throttled the Los Angeles Lakers before an intense overtime game saw the Denver Nuggets hold back the Minnesota Timberwolves.
