5 memorable NBA Christmas moments
When it comes to sports, the NBA has become ingrained in the tradition of Christmas, with many of the league's marquee teams and stars taking to the court to entertain the millions of fans watching while gathered around tables and TV's with loved ones.
Here are some of the most memorable Dec. 25 moments the NBA has given us.
Bernard King drops 60 on the Nets
The King of New York delivered the league's first true signature Christmas moment 37 years after the tradition began, pouring in 60 points (without attempting a single 3-pointer) on 19-of-30 shooting in a Knicks loss.
The 60 points, which included 22 made free throws on 26 attempts, stood as the Madison Square Garden record until Kobe Bryant dropped 61 on the Knicks in 2009, and would stand as the franchise scoring record until Carmelo Anthony scored 62 in Jan. 2014.
Ewing at the buzzer
The Knicks were a joke during the 1986-87 season, losing 58-plus games for the third straight year, but Patrick Ewing at least provided some holiday cheer for The Garden faithful.
A year after spearheading a 25-point rally against the Celtics on Christmas Day, Ewing beat Michael Jordan's Bulls with a last second tip-in - a moment made famous by the image of Trent Tucker leaping into Ewing's arms like an awe inspired child in the presence of Santa Claus.
Kobe vs. Sha
Who could forget the build up to the first meeting between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant?
With all due respect to whatever happened over the first two months of the 2004-05 season, everyone was waiting for Christmas Day, when Shaq would make his return to Staples Center with the Miami Heat.
Bryant scored a game-high 42 points, but he also committed nine turnovers and went 12-of-30 from the field, as the Lakers fell to Shaq's Heat in overtime. O'Neal finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
LeBron vs. Kobe
They didn't have the history Kobe and Shaq did, but you can make the argument the 2010 meeting between Bryant's Lakers and James' Heat was the best on-paper Christmas matchup ever.
The Big Three of James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were making their Christmas debut as teammates and entered the game 22-9, while the defending champion, 21-8 Lakers, featured Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Metta World Peace alongside Bryant.
Miami won easily, with James posting 27 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and four steals.
NBA Forever
Fears of an entire season lost to a lockout were real, so a 66-game season that tipped off on Christmas - which opened with perhaps the greatest montage in NBA history - was the perfect gift for basketball fans everywhere.
Of note, Derrick Rose began his MVP defense with a game-winner against the Lakers, while the still ringless, Big Three era Heat exacted revenge on the Mavericks team that crushed their dreams six months earlier.