There used to be a time when basketball reigned supreme on Christmas day. The premier NBA teams would matchup with one another. They would emphasize old rivalries with rich histories like the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. After opening all the presents, you would receive an entire day's worth of basketball as a gift from the NBA. Now, the NFL has taken the mantle as the must-watch TV with family. It looks like football is going to reign supreme for a while too. How did this shift take place?
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Just on paper, it's quite simple. The basketball games just aren't that great compared to the NFL. The 76ers vs the Celtics could've been great but Philadelphia's players are too banged up for it to be a marquee matchup. Every other game lacks general star power or general drama. The Lakers and Warriors will likely bring in the viewers off the strength of LeBron James and Stephen Curry. It's also directly after both football games for the day.
The NFL Beats The NBA for Christmas Day Viewing
Conversely, this year's slate of NFL Christmas games are essential viewing. Baltimore and Houston have some exciting offenses, even with the brutal injury bug. The Chiefs and Steelers are two of the big contenders in the AFC. Moreover, Pittsburgh has the personnel to threaten Kansas City with a rare loss this year. There are much more stakes in football right now, especially since the regular season is wrapping up. Once the kids wrap up with presents, set up TV for them in another room while the adults devour football before dinner.
It's really just that simple: make the games feel important. The NFL spotlighted these games on Netflix to add an air of exclusivity to them. For casuals, they can even see Beyoncé perform. The NBA just don't have the special allure to it anymore. It's going to get worse as LeBron, Steph, and Kevin Durant eventually retire. No star power and lack of drama will make fans treat it as an inessential product. There's a few potential fixes to bring some forward momentum in basketball. But it looks like the NFL has holiday sports on lock for the foreseeable future.
