The NBA’s Christmas Day slate has always been about more than just basketball games. It is a celebration, a cultural tradition, and a platform for the league’s brightest stars and most compelling teams to perform on one of the biggest stages of the regular season. For many franchises, being included in the holiday lineup is an annual expectation, a sign of relevance, and an acknowledgment that the league considers them among its top draws for fans, broadcasters, and advertisers. That is why the news that the Boston Celtics will not participate in any NBA Christmas Day game this year, on December 25, 2025, comes as a genuine shock to many basketball followers. This will mark the first time since 2015 that Boston is absent from the marquee holiday schedule, ending nearly a decade of consistent presence. For a franchise with such a rich history and a team that remains a perennial contender, the omission raises questions about the NBA’s scheduling priorities, television market considerations, and the league’s broader strategy for balancing tradition with new storylines.
The Celtics’ absence feels even more surprising given their sustained relevance in recent seasons. Boston has not been a team hovering in mediocrity or dealing with a rebuild; instead, they have remained a constant presence in the playoff picture and have made deep postseason runs. The duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has been one of the most marketable and productive tandems in the league, producing memorable moments on both ends of the floor. The team’s style of play, fanbase passion, and historical rivalries make them a natural choice for a nationally televised Christmas showcase. In past years, Boston has been matched against some of the league’s most notable opponents—whether it was facing LeBron James-led squads, renewing their rivalry with the Philadelphia 76ers, or clashing with Eastern Conference powerhouses. Christmas Day games involving the Celtics have often brought high ratings, intense competition, and dramatic finishes. That’s why their omission is not just a scheduling footnote; it represents a notable departure from a trend that has felt like part of the NBA’s holiday DNA.
From 2016 to 2024, Boston played an integral role in the league’s Christmas Day festivities. Those matchups weren’t just about basketball—they were about showcasing the Celtics’ place in the NBA’s cultural fabric. The green-and-white jerseys, the tradition-rich franchise, and the passionate TD Garden crowd (when hosting) made for compelling television. Even when playing on the road, the Celtics brought a level of gravitas that elevated the sense of occasion. Their games often had playoff implications or served as previews of potential postseason matchups, adding another layer of intrigue. The consistency of their presence during that stretch reinforced the perception that Boston was not just a good team, but one of the NBA’s flagship franchises deserving of a premium spotlight.
The decision to leave the Celtics off the 2025 Christmas Day slate inevitably leads to speculation about the league’s thinking. One possibility is that the NBA wanted to refresh its holiday matchups, leaning into newer rivalries and emerging star power in other markets. The league has been actively promoting young stars in smaller or mid-sized markets, trying to spread national exposure beyond the traditional big-market teams. Another possibility is that television partners like ESPN and ABC have pushed for different storylines, aiming to highlight franchises with hotter short-term narratives. The Celtics, while still elite, may not currently have the kind of offseason drama, blockbuster trades, or seismic roster shifts that grab casual viewers’ attention. In contrast, other teams could be entering the 2025-26 season with high-profile acquisitions, returning superstars from injury, or revenge storylines that make for compelling holiday viewing.
There is also a competitive balance factor to consider. The NBA may be looking to ensure that more teams share the Christmas spotlight rather than giving the same franchises repeated exposure year after year. For example, during the Warriors’ dominant run, they became a near-permanent fixture on the holiday schedule, as did LeBron James-led teams. But in recent years, there has been a conscious effort to rotate in franchises like the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, or Denver Nuggets—teams that have earned their spot through strong play and rising popularity. The Celtics’ removal could be viewed as part of this broader rotation strategy, even if it disappoints Boston’s massive fanbase.
From a marketing perspective, this decision carries weight. Christmas Day games are among the most-watched regular-season broadcasts, offering enormous exposure for the teams involved. They also create opportunities for merchandise sales, with fans often buying jerseys, hats, and other gear as part of the holiday buzz. For a brand as globally recognized as the Celtics, missing out on that stage means losing a valuable promotional moment. While Boston will still have plenty of nationally televised games throughout the season, there is something unique about the Christmas spotlight—its captive audience, its festive atmosphere, and its tradition of producing memorable performances. Losing that moment for the first time in a decade stings for a franchise used to being front and center.
Historically, the Celtics have a rich Christmas Day history, going back decades. They have played in some iconic matchups, including battles against Bill Russell’s rivals in the 1960s, clashes with the Showtime Lakers in the 1980s, and more recent showdowns against modern Eastern Conference powers. For many fans, seeing Boston play on Christmas was almost as expected as opening gifts in the morning. The streak that began in 2016 became a point of pride for Celtics Nation, symbolizing their team’s consistent status among the league’s elite. To have that streak broken not because of poor performance, but due to the league’s shifting priorities, adds a bittersweet note to the 2025 holiday season for Boston supporters.
It is also worth considering the impact on the players. Competing on Christmas Day has a special significance within the NBA community. It is both an honor and a challenge—an acknowledgment that the league trusts your team to deliver a high-quality product to a massive audience. For stars like Tatum and Brown, playing on Christmas is a chance to cement legacies and create moments that live in highlight reels for years. Missing that opportunity might not affect the standings, but it can leave a subtle void in a season’s narrative. For younger players, it is also a benchmark, a sign that they have arrived on the big stage. Without that game, Boston’s roster will have to find other moments to generate that same level of visibility and excitement.
For fans, the absence changes the feel of the holiday. Basketball fans often structure their Christmas Day around the NBA schedule, tuning in to multiple games throughout the day while celebrating with family and friends. In Boston, that tradition has included watching the Celtics, whether they were tipping off early in the afternoon or closing out the night with a marquee matchup. Without their team in the mix, many Celtics fans may feel less connected to this year’s slate, even if they still enjoy the overall spectacle. It could also shift viewing habits, as some fans may skip parts of the day’s coverage entirely without their hometown team to root for.
Looking ahead, the Celtics’ exclusion in 2025 could be an isolated occurrence rather than the beginning of a long absence. If Boston continues to compete at a high level, it is likely they will return to the Christmas Day schedule in future years. The NBA’s programming is fluid, and narratives can shift quickly depending on playoff results, offseason moves, and emerging rivalries. It is entirely possible that the Celtics could be back in the holiday spotlight as early as 2026 if they make another deep playoff run or find themselves in a particularly newsworthy matchup. However, for this season, the absence will serve as a reminder that no franchise, no matter how historically significant, is guaranteed a spot on the NBA’s most glamorous regular-season stage.
The league’s decision also underscores the competitive entertainment landscape of the NBA. With 30 teams, countless star players, and an audience that craves fresh stories, it is impossible to feature every deserving team in a single day. Even a franchise as iconic as the Celtics must sometimes yield the stage to others. While that may frustrate loyal fans, it is part of the NBA’s broader strategy to keep the product dynamic, unpredictable, and appealing to a wide range of viewers. For Boston, it will be a test of pride and focus to channel any disappointment into fuel for the regular season. The best way to reclaim a Christmas Day spot is to keep winning, stay relevant in the national conversation, and create the kind of compelling storylines that make the league and broadcasters eager to showcase them again.
In the end, December 25, 2025, will come and go with the NBA’s traditional slate of five high-profile matchups, but for the first time in nearly a decade, none of them will feature the Boston Celtics. For a franchise accustomed to being part of the holiday celebration, it will be a different kind of Christmas—one spent on the outside looking in. The fans will still wear their green jerseys, the team will still be chasing another championship, and the league will still move forward with its evolving vision for the game. Yet the absence will be felt, both in Boston and among those who have come to expect the Celtics as a fixture of the NBA’s most celebrated regular-season tradition. Whether this break from tradition becomes a one-year anomaly or a longer hiatus remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Celtics’ next Christmas Day appearance, whenever it comes, will carry a renewed sense of appreciation and anticipation.
