When the crisp November air sets in, we all know that we are in for the Thanksgiving treat. Every house has its way of celebrating the off-day with their family. However, in an ideal American household, the tradition is almost always constant. From preparing the golden turkey roast to waiting for friends and relatives to join in for the feast and finally, hogging the meal with gratitude shared. Not to forget, your uncle tuning the TV to watch the football game amid overlapping chatters.

But have you ever wondered why there wasn’t any NBA on Thanksgiving Day? Has it been this way since the beginning?

The answer is no, but it has become an untold rule in the NBA world. Over the last 14 years, the league hasn’t scheduled a single game on Thanksgiving. The last time the league aired a game was in 2010 when TNT telecasted a double-header. In 2011, the season had a delayed start due to the lockout and there weren’t any games until the Christmas holidays. However, in the following years, the league stopped playing games on Turkey Day without issuing any official statement.

Unlike NFL fans, who enjoyed a triple-header this season, the ball fans have to wait patiently until Black Friday to catch up on the NBA Cup action. Moreover, this season, the Thanksgiving off day may seem a little stand out compared to the previous for one reason. ‘Cause this is the second no-game day in three weeks. On Nov. 5, the league observed an off-day, citing the election day. Before even the fans could get over that one slow evening, the league slapped them with another. Luckily, they had the Thanksgiving leftovers to beat their boredom.

Above all, it’s the NBA’s way to let the NFL shine on Thanksgiving day.

When was the NBA’s last Thanksgiving game played?

As mentioned earlier, on 24 November 2010, the league had planned a doubleheader to offer their fans on Thanksgiving. It was played between the Sacramento Kings & LA Clippers and the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards. Even though these games had stars like Blake Griffin, Gilbert Arenas, and John Wall, it wasn’t arguably a holiday entertainer, as the teams involving LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and several other superstars were left unbothered.

Moreover, even before the 2010 Thanksgiving, the league had irregularities in scheduling games on the holiday. Up until 1982, the league had games played on Feast Day. After a long pause, it again started in 1994 and the tradition went on for a while and again took a pause in 2006, only to begin again in 2008.

So, after 2010, the league has scheduled a game on the holiday for 14 straight years. It will break the streak in the coming years. We never know since the league hasn’t made any official statement relating to scheduling games on the Harvest Day celebration. What do you think? Should the league break the streak and keep the ball fans happy?

What are the other holidays when the NBA doesn’t have games?

The NBA is probably the longest tournament played on the planet, spanning over almost 9 months. With 30 teams in the league, each team has to play 82 games and follow it up with a rigorous postseason. So, it’s a non-stop action, and every odd day, you will come across a thrilling match-up on your TV screen. However, it suddenly feels odd when there is no action for a day. Well, we have to be a little easy on the players as well, who work round the clock, flying coast to coast to entertain the fans.

Anyway, before you get upset realizing that there are no games today, here is the list of holidays when you don’t find NBA games on your television sets. This year, we have already missed out on the hardwood action on two days because of Election Day and Thanksgiving. Here’s a heads-up for the other off days.

While the NBA has Christmas Day, it rarely has games scheduled on Christmas Eve. And, it’s the same this year as well. There are five games scheduled on Christmas Day.

SA Spurs vs NY Knicks

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks

Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics

LA Lakers vs Golden State Warriors

Denver Nuggets vs Phoenix Suns

Apart from that, the league also has a long pause during the All-Star week. From 2025 February 14 to 20, there are no games played. But, the fans can still see their favorite player in action on Feb 14 and 15, taking part in the exciting All-Star events. Moreover, this time, it could be even more exciting, as it’s taking place in San Francisco, the home of the Warriors.

Moreover, there could be an off day before the start of the playoff, giving the players a breather before going for the hunt. Do you think the league should have off days in the middle of the season? Let us know in the comments below.