The NBA started operating in Nov. 1946. The Association started scheduling Christmas Day games a bit over a year later in 1947. Only the lockout-shortened 1999 season left the League without its perennial Dec. 25 slate.
The Knicks have appeared in a league-record 56 Christmas matchups and first did in that historic 1947 year. This winter season, New York will host its 57th such game and the Knicks will face the most exciting man to enter the league in more than two decades as they welcome the extraterrestrial Victor Wembanyama for the second time in the young Frenchman’s career.
Here’s what we’ve heard from a few Knickerbockers and a former NYC resident now plying his trade in Texas.
Karl-Anthony Towns
On Jalen Brunson’s not having to carry the team every game:
“I feel like it’s a blessing that JB doesn’t have to do what he did last game for us to come out with a win like we did [on Monday].
“It speaks to the growth of this team. He doesn’t have to have the whole city on his back every single night.”
On playing on Christmas Day for the first time at home:
“It’s my first one home. I never got to do that. So this is going to be fun, to be able to do it in front of your family.
“It’s crazy for me growing up in this area and to be watching the Knicks always play on Christmas Day, watching [Carmelo Anthony] go crazy on Christmas Day. And now to be in a position where I get to have my name in the history of Knicks players to play on Christmas, it’s a huge honor.”
On the opportunity to play on Christmas:
“I like playing basketball. It’s a great Christmas present for me. I get to go out there and lace the shoes up and play. So I’m excited.”
On Spurs’ rookie Victor Wembanyama:
“Special talent. Fellow No. 1 pick alumni right here. I’m excited to see how his career progresses and see what he can do.”
Mikal Bridges
On Jalen Brunson’s role this season and him not having to lead all scorers:
“It’s great. I think it’s going to open it up for him even more. When you have to respect everybody, you can’t help as much. You don’t help—it’s going to be tough to guard him.
“Just trying to keep teams honest, so they have to play straight up, and that’s when JB will be in kill mode.”
Josh Hart
On Victor Wembanyama:
“He’s an amazing player. He does things offensively, and defensively that nobody at 7-3 should be doing.
“He’s the future of the league, but we’ll give him his flowers after the game, not before the game.
“We got to make sure we slow down the Spurs and not just Wembanyama.”
AND Anunoby
On playing in his first Christmas Day game:
“I’m usually watching. It’ll be fun to play in one.”
Jalen Brunson
On not holding grudges against Joel Embiid:
“I don’t hold grudges, for the most part. Yeah, I hold grudges, who am I to lie?
“But I’ve known Joel from before I even got in the league. I’ve met him a couple times. It’s just respect there. I think there’s a certain line where there’s respect and you’re all competing and once it’s done, it’s good—I wouldn’t say it’s cool—I would say it’s good.”
Julian Champagnie (San Antonio Spurs Player & Former St. John’s Standout)
On not wanting anything to do with Staten Island:
“I’m from New York. I’m from Brooklyn. Please, for the record, no Staten Island. You have to fix that. I’m from Brooklyn.”
On spending time in New York City during Christmas:
“I’m looking forward to experiencing the tourist New York Christmas. I’ve never experienced that before. I wanted it to snow, but it’s not going to snow, so whatever.
“The 24th [my fiancée and I] will do Christmas Eve together. Just chill. She’s from New York, too. We’re going to see the tree, do a couple of things, some observatory decks. Just look around, experience the city again. It’s been a while.”
On finding his NBA home in San Antonio once the Sixers waived him after two games:
“I always said I was going to fit in no matter how I had to. Here they wanted me to shoot the basketball. I like to shoot, so it kind of worked out.”
On his basketball focus during the Spurs’ New York trip:
“I’m in New York for work this week. I’ll see everybody I want to see and everybody I have to see. But the main focus is still the main focus.
“I’m going there to win two games. That’s our goal. So I can’t act like I’m home. Not yet.”
Carmela Soprano
On the meaning of rooting for the Knicks and the recent roster upheaval:
“You’re a Knick fan, but what does it mean to be a Knick fan? Just that they play in the Garden? It’s the guys!
“It’s the guys you get attached to. It’s the way they play together and the interactions and the inside jokes and whatever you guys all have that reads.
“You get rid of a couple of those guys, I was like, ‘Are you f–king kidding me? You can’t do that.’ It’s not healthy, man.
“I have kids and a life and stuff and I absolutely fell apart.”
