The NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate of games is always a highly anticipated gift for basketball fans. But in recent years, a certain tradition has been noticeably absent from the holiday hardwood: festive Christmas jerseys.
The Disappearance of NBA Christmas Jerseys
So what happened to these beloved yuletide uniforms? The answer lies in the NBA’s uniform contract. In 2017, Nike took over from Adidas as the league’s official jersey provider. And with that change, the holiday-specific looks Adidas had pioneered were no longer part of the rotation.
Despite fan and player adoration for the Christmas Day jerseys, Nike has opted not to continue the tradition. Instead, teams have their pick of the standard Nike NBA uniform editions: Association, Icon, City, and Statement. While these provide storytelling opportunities and distinct designs, they lack the unmistakable holiday spirit their predecessors captured.
LeBron James Weighs In
Even NBA superstar LeBron James, a Christmas Day fixture with 17 straight holiday appearances, has expressed his disappointment in the jerseys’ disappearance. In 2024, James tweeted:
Not having Xmas day unis anymore really sucks! That was a great feeling walking into the locker room and seeing those. It was literally like receiving a 🎁!
Unfortunately, it seems Nike is unmoved by such pleas. The company has stated it is content with its current jersey assortment and the storytelling it allows. A Christmas comeback does not appear to be in the cards.
A Trip Down Candy Cane Lane
While we wait for a yuletide jersey revival that may never come, let’s take a look back at the festive uniforms of Christmases past:
- 2008-2011: Snowflakes – A simple snowflake design around teams’ logos adorned otherwise standard jerseys. The league made an effort to schedule teams with red and green color schemes.
- 2012: Big Color – The first true Christmas jerseys featured monochromatic color schemes and oversized team logos. Debuted in a memorable commercial with Carol of the Bells and dribbling players.
- 2013: Big Logo (and Sleeves) – Enlarged centered logos remained, but they were overshadowed by the introduction of short sleeves. Though lighter than standard jerseys, many players disliked the sleeves’ impact on shooting.
- 2014: First Name Basis – Player first names appeared below jersey numbers for the first time. According to Adidas, this was “a nod to [players’] familiarity and popularity with the NBA fan base around the world.”
- 2015-2016: Greeting Cards – Cream tones and holiday-style cursive lettering made these jerseys resemble Christmas cards. A fan favorite design that was the only one repeated.
From snowflakes to sleeves to scripts, the NBA’s Christmas jerseys were a beloved tradition that added extra holiday magic to the annual December 25th games. While their future remains uncertain, they hold a special place in league lore. For now, fans and players alike can only remember the short-lived era when Christmas spirit was worn on NBA sleeves.
