Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James had a message for the NFL following the team’s close victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
James scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists while Austin Reaves’ basket gave the Lakers a 115-113 victory. But with the NFL approaching what was the most exciting day of the NBA regular season, James sent a warning shot to the league.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during the game against the Golden State Warriors, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
“I love the NFL. I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day,” he declared.
Last year, the NFL scheduled three games on Christmas Day, since it fell on a Monday. This year two games were scheduled for Christmas. In 2022, regular season games fell on Christmas Day.
NFL officials said last year that the league would not schedule any games on Christmas if they fell outside of a normally scheduled day.
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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry dribbles against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)
“We’ve seen the opportunity with Thanksgiving and some of the audience we’ve continued to build there,” NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder told The Wall Street Journal at the time. “We think there is an opportunity when the calendar allows it also at Christmas, when we know our fans will be together.”
Just four months later, the league took a radical turn.
“The fans spoke clearly,” Schroeder told The Wall Street Journal in March. “There is a huge demand.”
The report noted that the NFL typically gave the day off to the NBA and other programs and even moved the old NFL championship game off of Christmas if it fell on that day.
This year, NFL games were watched on Netflix. When the scores are released, everyone will be able to see if James is right.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs talk after the Steelers game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
The NFL dispatched the first round of the College Football Playoff last week in its rare head-to-head matchup.
