Kristian Ferrell
Basketball fans might be disappointed to learn that the NBA does not schedule games on Thanksgiving. This has been a tradition for the league for over a decade now, with the last Thanksgiving game taking place in 2010. While the NBA has never issued an official statement explaining this decision, it is likely due to the NFL's dominance on the holiday. Thanksgiving is one of only four days during the regular season where there are no NBA games, with the others being Christmas Eve, Election Day, and the NCAA men's basketball championship game day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| NBA games on Thanksgiving | No NBA games since 2010 or 2011 |
| Reason | Unknown; possibly due to low ratings compared to NFL, or to allow players to celebrate with family and friends |
| College basketball on Thanksgiving | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
The NBA doesn't play on Thanksgiving
The NBA has not played on Thanksgiving Day since 2010. This will be the 12th consecutive season without NBA games on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of four days in the regular season when there are no NBA games scheduled, the others being Christmas Eve, Election Day, and the day of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game.
The NBA has never given an official explanation for this decision, but it is likely because the NFL rules the holiday. The NFL traditionally hosts three games on Thanksgiving, and watching football has become an integral part of the holiday. An NFL tripleheader on Thanksgiving would also be a ratings battle that early-season NBA basketball could not compete with.
The NBA has a packed schedule on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday, with 14 and 10 games scheduled, respectively, for the 2023-2024 season. While the NBA does play on Christmas Day, it is becoming the main sport on television during that time, whereas basketball is rarely shown on TV during Thanksgiving.
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College basketball is played on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a day when families get together to eat and watch television. It is also a day that is inextricably linked to sports, with the NFL hosting three games on Thanksgiving each year. Watching football on the holiday is a tradition like no other.
The NBA does not schedule games on Thanksgiving. This will be the 12th straight season without NBA games on Thanksgiving. The NBA played games on Thanksgiving quite regularly until somewhat recently, with the last game taking place in 2010. Since then, the NBA has not issued an official statement on the decision, and it remains an unwritten rule.
While the NBA does not play on Thanksgiving, college basketball is always on. Thanksgiving is one of the rare days on the regular-season calendar where there are no NBA games scheduled, along with Christmas Eve, the day of the NCAA men's basketball championship game, and Election Day. The absence of the NBA on Thanksgiving gives the spotlight to college basketball.
The NBA also does not schedule games on Christmas Eve, unlike the NFL, which hosts games on that day. However, the NBA does play on Christmas Day, a day when basketball is becoming the main sport and is played in primetime slots.
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The NFL plays on Thanksgiving
The National Football League (NFL) has played games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. The tradition of playing football on Thanksgiving dates back to 1876, shortly after the game was invented, as most people had the day off from work.
The NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the Detroit Lions since 1934 and another by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966, with two exceptions in 1975 and 1977. The first owner of the Lions, George A. Richards, started the Thanksgiving Day game tradition to attract people to Lions games and continue a custom begun by the city's previous NFL teams. Richards owned radio station WJR and negotiated an agreement with NBC to broadcast his Thanksgiving games live across the network.
Since 2006, a third NFL game has been played in primetime on Thanksgiving night, featuring teams that vary from year to year. In 2022, the league changed the branding of the Thanksgiving games to the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration in honour of former head coach and broadcaster John Madden, who passed away in December 2021.
The NFL's Thanksgiving Day games have become an institution, with a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. While the NBA has played on Thanksgiving in the past, it has not been a recent tradition, allowing the NFL to take centre stage on the holiday.
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NBA ratings have increased since stopping Thanksgiving games
The NBA has not scheduled games on Thanksgiving for over a decade now. The last time NBA games were played on Thanksgiving was in 2010, with a two-game slate. Since then, the NBA has allowed the NFL to take control of the holiday, with a triple-header of games.
The NBA's decision to stop playing on Thanksgiving appears to have been a strategic one. Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to eating and watching television, and the NBA likely didn't want to compete with the NFL for ratings. By stepping aside, the NBA may have avoided a ratings battle that could have hurt their overall numbers.
This strategy seems to have paid off, as NBA ratings have been booming since they discontinued Thanksgiving games. In contrast, NFL ratings have been trending downwards over the same period. The difference in ratings is significant, with even the worst Monday Night NBA game outperforming most conference finals games.
While the NBA doesn't play on Thanksgiving, they do have a full slate of games on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday. This allows them to capitalize on the holiday weekend without going head-to-head with the NFL on Thanksgiving Day. The NBA has also strategically scheduled marquee matchups on Christmas Day, which has become the league's most visible day of the regular season.
The NBA's decision to stop playing on Thanksgiving and focus on other key dates appears to have been a successful strategy, with overall viewership for the league increasing in recent years.
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NBA players get Thanksgiving off
Thanksgiving is a rare day in the NBA calendar when no games are scheduled. The league traditionally does not schedule games on Thanksgiving Day, giving players, coaches, broadcasters, and all other team associates a holiday.
The NBA hasn't played on Thanksgiving in over a decade, with the last game taking place in 2010. This was a doubleheader featuring the Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards. Since then, the NBA has never officially explained this decision, and it remains an unwritten rule.
There are a few potential reasons for the NBA's absence on Thanksgiving. Firstly, it is a day primarily dedicated to eating and watching television, with the NFL taking centre stage. The NFL has a strong hold on Thanksgiving ratings, and the NBA avoids scheduling games on this day to prevent a direct ratings battle with the NFL. Thanksgiving is one of the few days when the NBA takes a back seat to another league in terms of viewership.
The NBA also has a packed schedule around Thanksgiving, with a slate of games on Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday, ensuring fans are not left wanting for long.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the NBA doesn't schedule games on Thanksgiving. The 2023-2024 NBA schedule, for example, doesn't include games on Thanksgiving.
There is no official statement from the NBA on why they don't schedule games on Thanksgiving. However, it is likely because the NFL rules the holiday. The NFL hosts three games on Thanksgiving each year, and watching football on the holiday is a tradition.
Yes, the NBA has played on Thanksgiving before. The NBA played games on Thanksgiving quite regularly until somewhat recently. The last time the NBA played games on Thanksgiving Day was in 2008.
