Top 5 major storylines to follow ahead of 2025 NBA Christmas Day

The 2025 NBA Christmas Day games will feature the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, OKC Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The NBA’s holiday season matchups always bring forth some of the best storylines, and this season won’t be any different. With multiple rivalries, rich history and personal milestones littered across tomorrow’s five matchups, the fans will be in for quite a show.

Let’s take a look at five storylines that fans should follow.

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5 major storylines to follow for 2025 NBA Christmas Day

1) Could potentially be LeBron James’ last NBA Christmas Day game

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns - Source: Imagn

LeBron James, who is currently in the 24th season of his career, could be preparing to play his last-ever NBA Christmas Day game.

James is in the final year of his contract with the Lakers and has yet to show any indication that he will be playing beyond his current deal. With this being the case, it wouldn’t be surprising if this ends up being the King’s last time suiting up for the holidays.

The four-time champion has previously expressed how he wishes he could stay at home and spend Christmas with his family instead.

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2) Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren’s matchup on Christmas

Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren will face each other for the third time this season during their NBA Christmas Day matchup. Wembanyama has continued fanning the flames of their rivalry with subtle digs at the OKC Thunder center this season.

What’s even more interesting is that Wembanyama’s Spurs are responsible for two of the Thunder’s four losses in 2025-26. With both teams putting on a show and personal rivalries adding to the drama, the Spurs-Thunder Christmas Day game promises to be one to watch.

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3) Steph Curry faces former Splash Brother Klay Thompson

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks - Source: Imagn

Another interesting storyline from the 2025 NBA Christmas Day games is the matchup between Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Curry and Thompson were teammates on the Warriors for more than a decade, winning four championships together.

Together, their combined threat from beyond the arc led to the duo being dubbed the Splash Brothers. After sharing countless moments on the same team, it always makes for quite a spectacle when two of the best shooters in the NBA face each other.

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4) Luka Doncic’s first Christmas Day game for the LA Lakers

The 2025 NBA Christmas Day game will also be Luka Doncic’s first time playing during the holiday season as an LA Laker. Doncic arrived in Los Angeles as part of a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February.

Ever since, there has been a shift in the Lakers organization as the team begins to plan its future around Doncic.

Fans will get a glimpse of what that future looks like when Doncic plays his first NBA Christmas Day game tomorrow. It is almost poetic that what will be Doncic’s first could be LeBron James’ last.

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5) Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards headline Nuggets-Timberwolves matchup

NBA: Playoffs-Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves - Source: Imagn

Last but not least, Nikola Jokic will lead his Denver Nuggets against Anthony Edwards and his Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic and Edwards have been two of the best players in the league this season, making this matchup worth the price of admission by themselves.

The Timberwolves guard is averaging 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, shooting 49.0%. Meanwhile, the three-time MVP is recording 28.9 ppg, 12.0 rpg and 10.9 apg.

Their teams have also performed well collectively, with the Nuggets (21-8) holding third place in the Western Conference, while Minnesota (20-10) trails closely in fifth place. Julius Randle and Jamal Murray will also be worth keeping an eye on in what should be a high-quality game.

Edited by Sameer Khan