Overview
- Barkley criticized commissioner Roger Goodell on ESPN's Christmas Day pregame show and declared, "Christmas is an NBA day."
- The comments aired before a five-game NBA slate that continues the league's long-running tradition of Christmas matchups.
- This year the NFL scheduled three games on Dec. 25, expanding a holiday footprint that has grown since the league began adding Christmas games in 2020.
- The New York Post notes Netflix is paying $150 million per year in a three-year deal for a pair of NFL Christmas games, underscoring the broadcast value of the date.
- Coverage highlights that the NFL typically draws larger TV audiences than the NBA, a reality that shapes the competition for Christmas viewership.