LeBron James calls out NFL: 'Christmas is our day'

The NBA did not disappoint during its Christmas Day slate, seeing each of the first four games decided within six points. The NFL cannot say the same after two blowout victories by the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.

After the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Golden State Warriors 115-113 in an instant classic between two of the NBA’s best, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, James took a moment to let everyone know that the NFL might be better off sticking to Thanksgiving moving forward.

“I love the NFL, but Christmas is our day,” James said on the ESPN broadcast after the victory.

Given the outcomes — especially with the finish of the Lakers vs. Warriors — it’s easy to agree with the four-time NBA champion.

His matchup saw the Warriors mount a fourth-quarter comeback after trailing by seven points with 59 seconds left in the game. A late, deep 3-pointer from Curry tied the game at 113 before the Lakers’ Austin Reaves hit the game-winning shot near the basket with a second left in regulation. Curry finished with 38 points while James scored 31 points and 10 assists. Reaves had a triple-double as well.

Meanwhile, on the gridiron, the Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 after pulling away in the fourth quarter. For the Ravens, they beat down the Houston Texans 31-2 in a game that never felt competitive as Lamar Jackson became the all-time leading rusher by a quarterback in NFL history.

While the outcomes weren’t exactly close, it is unlikely the NFL will change its model, the league has held Christmas Day annually games since 2020. However, to James’ point, the NBA does not hold any games on Thanksgiving Day, which has historically been a day that is associated with the NFL and football despite being in-season.

With performances like the one in the Lakers vs. Warriors, the NBA only helped to further prove why James believes Christmas Day should be reserved for the association.