The Best Christmas performances in NBA history enjoy!
Just like that another week passed in the NBA, like every week I pick the surprises of the week and honor players that were shining bright this past week. But today I hosting the Christmas special of the Basketball surprises, hope you like it enjoy and Merry Christmas!! Don’t forget to watch the games.
Before I start the list a small shout out to James Harden scoring over 50 points back to back! And to the great Kobe Bryant by having his numbers retired!
But unfortunately for them this is not the normal surprise posts! So Santa show me those players that made it to the list!
Wilt Chamberlain (1961)
None of us saw him play but we all know him! But Chamberlain holds numerous NBA Records, scoring 100 points in one game (with a famous picture to show for it) averaging more than 40 and 50 points in a season! the hall of famer won two Championships and will always be named as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Many people would claim that the numbers he put up will never be shown again and the critics would say that the sport was so much different in the early days but still those numbers are very impressive no matter which decade we live in.
He also showed us he deserves in the all-time Christmas Greats making it to this week’s post by scoring 59 points and pulling down 36 rebounds against the New York Knicks!
Bernard King (1984)
We are not talking about his younger Brother Albert, who also played in the NBA but the spot on this week’s list will be for Bernard King. We played his best basketball as small forward for the New York Knicks. Small Forward with a big heart! Having career averages of 22.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game!
On Christmas day 1984 King showed some great play scoring 61 points in a losing game, king had 40 points at half time and finished on 19 of 30 shooting. Becoming just the tenth player to score 60 or more in NBA history.
Charles Barkley (1993)
Member of the dream team in 1992 and 1996, part of the 50 best players of all time! Sir Charles made it into the hall of fame in 2006.
You hate him or love his controversial behavior but after his MVP winning season Barkley had one of the best Christmas games scoring 38 points and 18 rebounds showing Hakeem Olajuwon how it’s done in a 111- 91 Phoenix Suns victory, not bad to make such a statement on Christmas!
Tracy McGrady (2002)
I love T-Mac, not only because he played for the team I love the Toronto Raptors but also because of his crazy scoring games.
So I am not surprised that McGrady had a wonderful Christmas performance for us as well. Many thought he would be a better baseball player then basketball player by the way, can you imagine.
As late Christmas Eve it was not sure if McGrady would play on Christmas day against the Pistons in 2002, he was on the bench more than normal and he looked in pain while being on the floor. But the Magic won because of his 46 points, six rebounds and three steals. Stealing the show on Christmas!
Dwyane Wade (2006)
Lakers-Heat on Christmas day! Just a great game to watch with your family and enjoying great basketball during a special day! Kobe Bryant missed the memo as he only scored 16 points, just one more as his season low. But Dwyane Wade delivered, scoring 40 points and handing out 11 assist! Great day for the Heat fans. Congratulations to Wade on making it to the list!
Lebron James (2010)
Of course the king like to show up at Christmas as well, most games are televised nationwide and players just love to show all people watching what they are capable of.
In his first game on this special day as a member of the Heat the King had his 3th triple double for Miami and his 31 first of his career! 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assist! Kobe Scored only 17 points for LA in that game.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s special! Next week I will pick the surprises of the week again like normal.
So don’t miss number 10 next week!
Merry Christmas everybody!
