Are There Any NBA Games on Thanksgiving?
Contents
It’s Thanksgiving Day, and while many people are spending time with family and friends, some might be wondering if there are any NBA games on.
Introduction
Are there any NBA games on Thanksgiving?
The answer to this question is complicated. There are no NBA games on Thanksgiving Day itself, but there are often games on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. The reason for this is that the NBA schedule is heavily influenced by television schedules, and Thanksgiving is a holiday that is traditionally busy for television.
A Brief History of the NBA on Thanksgiving
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a long tradition of playing games on Thanksgiving Day, dating back to its inaugural season in 1946. In fact, the very first game in NBA history was played on Thanksgiving Day! The league has typically scheduled games on Thanksgiving to take advantage of the holiday break and the fact that many people are off from work and have time to watch TV. Over the years, some of the NBA’s most famous players have made served up memorable performances on Thanksgiving. Here are just a few examples:
In 1960, Wilt Chamberlain scored 59 points and grabbed 36 rebounds in a game for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks. Chamberlain’s performance is still the record for most points scored on Thanksgiving Day.
In 1984, Larry Bird had a triple-double (29 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) for the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons.
In 2001, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The NBA has not always played games on Thanksgiving Day every year, but it has become more common in recent years. In 2019, there were five games scheduled for Thanksgiving: two games on TNT and three games on ESPN.
The Current NBA Thanksgiving Schedule
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a long tradition of playing games on Thanksgiving Day dating back to 1947. In fact, the first ever NBA game was played on Thanksgiving Day! Currently, there are no NBA games scheduled for Thanksgiving Day.
Why the NBA Stopped Playing Games on Thanksgiving
The NBA used to play games on Thanksgiving but stopped doing so in 2015. The reason for this is that the league wanted all its teams to have a day off on Thanksgiving so that their players could spend time with their families. This decision was made in order to make the league more family-friendly.
Conclusion
Reviewing the schedule, there are no NBA games played on Thanksgiving Day.
