Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson gave a private annoyance some very public legs this week when he discussed his displeasure with the NBA playing games on Christmas Day.
“I don’t think anybody should play on Christmas Day,” Jackson told reporters. “Soccer teams don’t play this time of year; they take a break. I don’t understand it.
“When I was in the CBA, we had a commissioner who had a Christmas Eve game. I had to call him up and say that’s the holy time. . . . You just have to keep reminding them that this is a special day.”
And while not everyone in the NBA shares his view on Christmas Day games — Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he likes them — there are a lot of players and other coaches that agree with Jackson.
The Nuggets play tonight at Oklahoma City, and while everyone is professional and understands that it is a part of this job, it doesn’t mean they have to be fired up about it.
“For me, Christmas Day is the best day,” Nuggets center Nene said. “My Savior was born. People don’t respect that. People don’t respect Christmas, people don’t respect Easter. Those are the two important days for Christians. I’m Christian. If I need to work, I’m definitely going to do my best, but we are supposed to be more serious about this day.”
This is the second straight year the Nuggets play on Christmas, and the schedule-makers didn’t do the team any favors, also making it the second straight year the Nuggets play this game on the road. They were at Portland last season. Prior to that, the organization hadn’t played a game on Christmas since 1994.
And yet the day, which has grown over the years to include more teams and more games, is a validation of sorts. It is the NBA’s showcase day for the new season, an invitation to the casual fan who has been focused on football to this point to join the basketball party. The league does that by rolling out its best and most interesting teams and players. The new- look Miami Heat face the Lakers in the spotlight game of five that are on the schedule and will be nationally televised.
“I think two years in a row being away from home for Christmas is probably . . . I think they should say ‘You play on Christmas,’ but I don’t think being away from home two years in a row . . . I would change that,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “We have families, we have situations. If we played in Denver, it would probably be OK, but everything is going to be changed. Christmas Eve is going to be Christmas, and then you got to come back and play Philadelphia the next night.
“So it’s going to be an interesting two days. But I think we’re in a good place. Hopefully, we’ll have a great Christmas and celebrate the good stuff from the first two months and come out fighting.”
Playing on Christmas is the only thing second-year Nuggets guard Ty Lawson has ever known.
“It’s tough, man,” Lawson said. “You want to be with your family. But at the same time, it’s a job. Some people have to work on Christmas. So you can’t complain.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
