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LeBron James vs Stephen Curry Christmas Day Stats: Which Veteran Has Better Numbers on NBA’s Oldest Tradition?

Published 12/24/2023, 12:25 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

For NBA fans, Christmas is not just about unwrapping gifts and spending time with family; it also presents a rare occasion for them to witness the long-standing league rivalries unfold, featuring some of the biggest stars in the realm of basketball. This is an age-old tradition that started when the league was just in its second season. The inaugural Christmas Day game was played in 1947 when the New York Knicks triumphed over the Providence Steamrollers, 89-75, at Madison Square Garden. Since then, the tradition has continued every single year without fail, save for the 1998-99 season (lockout year).

Since December 25th promises several marquee matchups, ratings, and viewership surge during this particular holiday. Naturally, the league presents its most popular stars to ensure fans get what they tuned in for. As a result, cultural icons LeBron James and Stephen Curry have been a regular feature. However, while the two stars gear up for their Christmas Day games, let’s take a look at which veteran holds a better record on this festive occasion.

James vs Curry: Which veteran has fared better on December 25th?

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While Stephen Curry has been one of the best shooters, the league has seen in recent memory, Christmas Day games haven’t been kind to him so far. The Baby-Faced Assassin has played nine Christmas games so far and is averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks on 31.5 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc. He has only once scored more than 20 points in a Christmas game, accumulating just 138 points over nine games. His record stands at 4 wins and 5 losses during these matchups.

USA Today via Reuters

LeBron James, on the other hand, is leading the charts in points scored during the holiday matchups. He has played in 17 games, the most number of Christmas games played by a player, and has amassed a staggering 460 points- the most scored by any player on Christmas Day. Through these 17 matchups, James boasts an average of 27.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 49.5 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from downtown. He is also tied with Dwayne Wade for the most wins on December 25, with an impressive 10-7 record.

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LeBron James has faced Stephen Curry three times on Christmas Day. The Akron Hammer has had the upper hand in two of those outings. Therefore, King James is the clear winner here. However, tomorrow will present a new opportunity for the Warriors’ leader to improve his record.

When and where to watch the NBA Christmas Day games?

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The NBA has five mouth-watering marquee matchups scheduled for Christmas night. The Milwaukee Bucks will lock horns with the New York Knicks at 12 p.m. ET., and the next matchup pits the Warriors against the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Following this, the Los Angeles Lakers will battle it out with the Boston Celtics at 5 p.m. ET.

The penultimate matchup of the day promises a thrilling showdown between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat at 8 p.m. Lastly, the Dallas Mavericks will face off against the Phoenix Suns at 10:30 p.m. ET. All the games will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN for the fifth straight season.

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Which game are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by:

Darshita Daga

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“When you think about winning, you go to the extreme '' - I try to stick by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s words. As a passionate reader, who found comfort in libraries, I am pursuing a degree course in English. With my newfound admiration for Giannis and the Bucks, I decided to explore NBA journalism as my career.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja