For basketball fans worldwide, the NBA's Christmas Day slate is a cherished tradition, featuring prime-time matchups with the league's biggest stars. It's marketed as a prestigious honour for the teams and players selected. However, Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green has delivered a brutally honest reality check, stating that for the athletes involved, playing on Christmas Day "sucks" and can negatively affect their mood and family life.
The Unvarnished Truth Behind the Holiday Spectacle
In candid remarks circulating online, Green pulled back the curtain on the player experience during the holiday. He clarified that his issue isn't with playing basketball itself, but with what the day represents—a time for family and celebration that players are forced to miss. While fans are at home opening gifts or traveling, players are locked into a strict routine of game preparation, media obligations, and arena schedules.
"Playing on Christmas Day also sucks," Green stated plainly. He highlighted two core reasons: the mental toll and the personal sacrifice. The disruption, he explained, "can affect your mood." More profoundly, players, like everyone else, desire to spend Christmas with their loved ones, an opportunity the NBA's holiday schedule simply does not permit.
Pushing Back Against the 'Honour' Narrative
One of Green's strongest points was his rejection of the idea that players should feel grateful for being chosen to play on December 25th. He argued this perspective ignores the significant sacrifices involved. "While fans are 'in their homes or on vacation with their families, making memories,'" Green pointed out, players are working on one of the few universally sacred family days.
This disconnect is why Green said he hates hearing the games described as an honour. His message was clear: external opinions and league marketing do not outweigh the lived experience of missing Christmas morning with family. The spectacle comes at a real emotional cost for those on the court.
Highlighting the League's Unspoken Tension
Christmas Day games are a cornerstone of the NBA's regular-season calendar and a massive business success, drawing huge national television audiences. Yet, Green's comments underscore a tension the league rarely addresses publicly: the emotional and personal strain placed on players.
The NBA season is already a gruelling marathon of constant travel, intense games, and limited downtime. The loss of major holidays like Christmas adds another layer of strain, affecting mental well-being and personal life. While some players may embrace the unique spotlight, Green's blunt assessment makes it clear that not everyone shares the same festive sentiment about the holiday workday.
His remarks serve as a stark reminder that behind the glamour and tradition of marquee NBA events, players navigate complex personal sacrifices that often go unseen by the celebrating public.
