Players, coaches enjoy Christmas spotlight
MIAMI — Jrue Holiday grew up watching Christmas Day games, with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers almost being an annual fixture in the NBA’s holiday lineup.
He’s never gotten to play on the holiday. That is, until now. He’s not alone. Several players will make their debut under the Christmas lights, including New Orleans star Anthony Davis — the reason the Pelicans are on the Christmas schedule. Then there are some of the top rookies like Miami’s Justise Winslow and the Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell. And the wait may be over for veterans such as the Clippers’ Josh Smith, Miami’s Gerald Green, the Lakers’ duo of Roy Hibbert and Lou Williams, all set to play on Christmas for the first time.
“We got Christmas Day because of Anthony,” Holiday said. “I think everybody knows why. I’m not offended or anything by being passed over or whatever. But it’s pretty cool to play on Christmas. Thank you, Anthony.”
As many as 46 players could make their Christmas debuts today. For some like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, playing on Christmas is as much of a holiday tradition as presents. Bryant will be in his 16th Christmas game — his Lakers haven’t had Dec. 25 off since 1998. Wade will play in his 11th Christmas matchup for the Heat, which is looking for its seventh consecutive win on the big day.
“I’m so damn happy about it,” Bryant said, “and so damn thankful for it.”
For others, like Cleveland’s Richard Jefferson, this has been a long time coming: His only other Christmas spent on the court was 2002. But it’s a relatively safe bet that the widest-eyed players will be those first experiencing the day in which the NBA dominates the sports landscape.
“It’s an honor,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan said. He remembers plenty of details from his only other involvement with the Christmas NBA slate. He was with the New York Knicks in 1987, playing seven minutes and shooting 1-for-3 in a loss to Detroit. He left Madison Square Garden after the game, caught the train from Penn Station — under the arena — to Long Island to his aunt’s home for the family Christmas gathering.
When his Thunder plays host to the Bulls today, Donovan will actually be the coach with the edge in Christmas experience: Fred Hoiberg, in his first season coaching Chicago, spent parts of 10 seasons in the league as a player but never got in a Dec. 25 game.
Many of the league’s biggest names are in this year’s lineup: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kyrie Irving, Chris Paul and LaMarcus Aldridge.
“It’s a fun day,” said Aldridge, who hasn’t played on Christmas since 2010 and is in
his first season with San Antonio. “… I think everybody’s looking forward to it, for sure.”
Few are probably looking forward to it more than Davis. The start to the season has been dreadful for New Orleans, but that won’t matter to him today. He remembers being outvoted when he wanted to watch cartoons on Christmas as a kid, with family members keeping the television on the NBA games instead.
Now he’ll be the one trumping the cartoons.
Notes
SUNS: Phoenix suspended forward Markieff Morris two games for what was termed “conduct detrimental to the team.” Morris threw a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek in the fourth quarter of a 104-96 home loss Wednesday to the Denver Nuggets. Hornacek said after the game that Morris was upset about being taken out of the game. Morris has repeatedly tweeted his desire in the offseason to be traded after the Suns dealt his twin brother Marcus to the Detroit Pistons.
TRADE: The 1-30 Philadelphia 76ers have acquired point guard Ish Smith from the New Orleans Pelicans for two second-round draft picks. Smith averaged 8.9 points and 5.7 assists in 27 games.