Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

OKC Thunder not featured in loaded NBA Christmas Day slate

By Rylan Stiles

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder walks to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 113-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder walks to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 113-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Oklahoma City Thunder are still attempting to rebuild their roster, eventually creeping back into contention status. For now, the OKC Thunder are just a spunky young team that has a shot to sneak into the play-in tournament, but will most likely find more success in individual player development than their win-loss record.

This has led to a two-year hiatus from the NBA’s biggest stage. The OKC Thunder have not had a National Televised game (ESPN, TNT, ABC) in two seasons, and the once staple of the Christmas Day slate has not hooped on the holiday in three seasons.

The NBA uses Christmas as its marquee, it is by far the biggest regular-season date on the calendar, and when the league has the most eye-balls. This season, it falls on a Sunday, giving runway for the NFL to yet again encroach on the Association’s showcase.

The OKC Thunder find themselves off the Christmas Day slate for the third year in the row

With the NFL tossing three games on Christmas, the NBA had to ramp up its scheduling. The National Football League is key in America, and it will attract eyeballs no matter when they play their games, as the NBA slate runs up against football during the Noon window, 3:30 window, and primetime window.

The slate features the reigning Super Bowl champions, one of their most well-known franchises (Green Bay), and the best quarterback to ever play the sport (Tom Brady). The NBA will be in a dogfight for what is normally their season opener to casual fans.

The NBA rolled out its counter punch, and it is a good one. The Bucks and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will face off with Jayson Tatum and the defending Eastern Conference Champions. LeBron James and the Lakers will take on Luka Doncic and the Mavericks, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets will play the Suns, and even the New York Knicks are watchable now with their matchup against James Harden and Joel Embiid.

The one game the NBA is banking on to supplant the NFL during its window is the defending NBA Champions Golden State Warriors taking on the upstart Memphis Grizzlies as these two teams not only met in the playoffs a season ago but had a ton of drama along the way. That storyline between Ja Morant and Draymond Green will be told a lot on the night before Christmas leading up to that game.

The NBA was never going to use a fun young team to experiment with on its largest day, but Sam Presti hopes he is building a team that can once again become a fixture of the Christmas Day schedule. Between 2010-2018 the Oklahoma City Thunder were featured on Christmas nine times.

Next. NBA.com ranks OKC Thunder 13th in West. dark

Home/Thunder News