Most sports leagues stop for Christmas. However, not the National Basketball Association. In fact, Christmas Day has been one of the NBA’s most notable days on their schedule, with many fascinating games. In our weekly list in the NBA, we will get in the holiday spirit and take a look at the top five NBA performances all-time on Christmas Day.
5) Tracy McGrady
In 2002, McGrady was in his third year with the Orlando Magic after starting his NBA career with the Toronto Raptors. He scored 46 points, six rebounds and three steals in a 104-99 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Toronto Dominion Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida. It was an outstanding 2002-03 season for McGrady, as he led the NBA with 32.1 points per game.
4) Jerry West
Known throughout the basketball world for his outstanding work as a general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and 1990s, West was a great player as well. He was a 14-time all-star. On Christmas Day, 1963, West scored 47 points as the Lakers beat the New York Knicks 134-126 at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City.
3) Rick Barry
One of the best free-throw shooters in NBA history, Rick Barry was in his second NBA season when he had a spectacular Christmas Day. He scored 50 points for the San Francisco Warriors in a 124-112 win over the Cincinnati Royals in 1966. Like McGrady, Barry would go on to lead the NBA in scoring that season, with 35.6 points per game.
2) Wilt Chamberlain
Best known for scoring 100 points in a single game, Wilt Chamberlain was fantastic on Christmas Day in 1961. He had 59 points for the Philadelphia Warriors. However, the Warriors actually still lost 136-135 to the Knicks in double overtime. Chamberlain would lead the NBA in scoring that season with an amazing 50.4 points per game.
1)Bernard King
A four-time all-star, it is safe to say that Bernard King does not have the resume as the four players previously mentioned on this list. But on Christmas Day in 1984, King set the NBA record for most points ever on December 25 with 60. Like Chamberlain, King could not lead his team to victory as New York was beaten 120-114 by the New Jersey Nets. Continuing the trend, King also led the NBA in scoring that season with 32.9 points per game.
