Christmas means family, food, and sports on TV. If anyone thought this was the one day the NBA could finally close the ratings gap with the NFL, reality delivered a cold dose of truth. The NFL rolled out a Christmas slate featuring teams already eliminated from playoff contention, backup quarterbacks, and games locked behind streaming platforms only. And still, the NBA barely made a dent.
Meanwhile, the NBA played what should have been a dream lineup. Big-market teams like the Lakers, Warriors, and Knicks were on display, along with the defending champions and a young, exciting squad led by a rising star. On paper, everything looked perfect. But ratings are not decided on paper. They are decided by the remote control, and viewers made their choice loud and clear.
The numbers from the news say everything that needs to be said.
NFL and NBA viewership numbers for their Christmas games:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2025
NFL (Netflix, Amazon):
– Cowboys-Commanders: 19.9M
– Lions-Vikings: 27.5M
– Broncos-Chiefs: 21.1M
NBA (ESPN, ABC)
– Cavaliers-Knicks: 6.4M
– Spurs-Thunder: 6.7M
– Mavericks-Warriors: 6.1M
– Rockets-Lakers: 5.4M
-… pic.twitter.com/QwY2Zswl3R
Yes, not even close. Three NFL games, all featuring backup quarterbacks, all on streaming platforms, still pulled nearly triple the audience of the NBA’s biggest holiday matchups. The NBA had free television access and star power on its side, yet the gap looked almost unfair.
That is where the sarcasm writes itself. The NBA loves to remind everyone that Christmas Day is its stage, its tradition, its moment. But the NFL casually walked in and took over the living room anyway. For the NFL, this is nothing new. When it shows up, everything else gets pushed to the background. And the most painful part for the NBA is that the NFL shows no sign of backing off. Christmas Day football is here to stay, and it will likely grow even bigger in the coming years.
For the NBA, this is not just a ratings loss. It is a message. Big names, flashy matchups, and holiday tradition are no longer enough on their own. Viewers want habit, drama, and the familiar chaos that only NFL football seems to deliver. No matter how bright the Christmas lights are, American TV audiences continue to choose football first.
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