NBA Christmas Day moves forward, lacking usual star-studded slate

The NBA is moving forward with its Christmas Day slate, even without its usual star power. 

As the league continues to be marred by a new COVID-19 variant, there was concern that perhaps they would elect to alter the Christmas Day schedule. However, now that is here, that’s clearly not going to happen.

Even though this year’s Christmas Day slate won’t look or feel like before, it’s certainly moving forward according to plan.

The notable names that will be missing from action on Christmas Day (due to health and safety protocols) include Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, and Luka Doncic. There’s growing optimism that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be able to play today for the Milwaukee Bucks.

NBA Christmas Day schedule: 

• Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks – 12:00 p.m.
• Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks – 2:30 p.m.
• Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns – 5:00 p.m.
• Brooklyn Nets @ Los Angeles Lakers – 8:00 p.m.
• Dallas Mavericks @ Utah Jazz – 10:30 p.m.

Nearly every game will be impacted by COVID-19 but if you’re confused as to why the league is still moving forward with the schedule, earlier this week NBA Commissioner Adam Silver gave voice to the league’s thinking and approach for the remainder of the season.

"[via ESPN]“No plans right now to pause the season,” Silver said in an interview on NBA Today on Tuesday afternoon. “We have of course looked at all the options, but frankly we are having trouble coming up with what the logic would be behind pausing right now.“As we look through these cases literally ripping through the country, let alone the rest of the world, I think we’re finding ourselves where we sort of knew we were going to get to over the past several months, and that is this virus will not be eradicated, and we’re going to have to learn to live with it. I think that’s what we’re experiencing in the league right now.”"

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 global pandemic, there’s still plenty of confusion, chaos, and unknown. NBA Christmas moves forward, trying to be the leader in, as Silvers says, “living with the virus.” Whether that will prove to be right or controversial remains to be seen.