Kentucky basketball has 11 players playing on Christmas Day
Few things in basketball feel more iconic than the NBA on Christmas Day. The tradition — which began in 1947 but took on its modern, high-profile form in the mid-1990s — has become a showcase for the league’s brightest stars. Since 2008, the NBA has gone with a five-game Christmas lineup, and 2025 will be no exception.
This year’s holiday slate will feature a strong Kentucky Wildcats flavor. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Christmas Day games will be:
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks – Karl-Anthony Towns in the Garden.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder – De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson face reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers – Reed Sheppard takes on Jarred Vanderbilt under the bright L.A. lights.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors – Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington suit up for the Mavs.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets – Rob Dillingham and Julius Randle battle Jamal Murray’s Nuggets.
In total, 11 former Wildcats will take the floor on one of the NBA’s biggest stages. For Sheppard, who’s already made waves in Summer League and preseason play, it’s a dream scenario: sharing the court with legends, being part of a national spotlight game, and doing it all in his first season.
The NBA uses Christmas as both a ratings showcase and a measuring stick for playoff contenders. That means Sheppard will be tested against one of the league’s most storied franchises while the whole basketball world is watching.
For Kentucky fans, the day will feel like a marathon reunion — five games, dozens of highlight plays, and reminders of just how much talent has come through Lexington. Whether you’re pulling for Sheppard’s Rockets, Towns’ Knicks, or Murray’s Nuggets, one thing is clear: Big Blue Nation will own a piece of Christmas.