The Boston Celtics will not participate in any NBA Christmas Day game this year (December 25, 2025). This marks the first time since 2015 that the Celtics are being left out of the NBA’s marquee holiday schedule.
For the first time since 2015, the Boston Celtics will not participate in an NBA Christmas Day game, breaking a nine-year streak of appearances on the league’s most celebrated regular-season stage. The decision to leave Boston off the 2025 Christmas Day schedule may come as a surprise to many, especially considering the team’s recent run of success and historical significance. The Celtics, after all, are one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, steeped in tradition, success, and a massive global fanbase. Their exclusion isn’t just about television ratings or matchup drama—it’s a notable shift in perception, one that speaks volumes about where the team stands in the eyes of the league and its decision-makers.
To understand the full weight of Boston’s absence, one must first grasp the importance of Christmas Day in NBA culture. Since the NBA began holding games on December 25 back in 1947, the day has evolved into a major holiday event, showcasing the league’s biggest stars, fiercest rivalries, and most compelling storylines. Christmas Day games aren’t just regular-season matchups; they are carefully curated spectacles, broadcast to a worldwide audience and symbolically used to highlight the teams the league believes are worth watching. It is no coincidence that year after year, the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Boston Celtics appear on this date. It’s prime time for basketball—and a badge of relevance.
The Celtics have been central to the NBA’s Christmas tradition for decades. From the days of Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, to the eras of Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and now Jayson Tatum, Boston’s place in these holiday games has always felt secure. In the past decade, the team has been a consistent Christmas fixture, playing seven of the last nine years in headline matchups. They’ve faced Eastern Conference rivals like the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers and have often been positioned as one of the league’s elite squads worthy of a national spotlight.
So why the sudden shift in 2025? Several key factors contributed to the Celtics being left off the Christmas Day slate this season. Chief among them is the unfortunate injury to franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum. After suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon late in the offseason, Tatum is expected to miss a significant portion of the upcoming season, including both Opening Night and Christmas Day. Without their superstar and leading scorer, the Celtics lose much of their draw for national audiences. Tatum isn’t just Boston’s best player—he’s a top-tier talent across the league, and a major face of the NBA’s next generation. His absence alone significantly dampens the team’s marketability.
In addition to Tatum’s injury, the Celtics’ roster has undergone considerable change since the end of the 2024–25 season. Veteran leaders like Al Horford have either retired or stepped away from the game, while key contributors such as Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday have moved to other teams. These departures leave the Celtics in a transitional phase, with many around the league unsure what to expect from them heading into the season. That uncertainty likely played a role in the league’s scheduling decisions. With no clear superstar available and questions surrounding the team’s competitiveness, Boston didn’t offer the same allure it had in years past.
Beyond the roster changes and injuries, the NBA’s scheduling philosophy has also evolved. The league has shown a recent willingness to shake up tradition and reward rising teams with marquee opportunities. Last season, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder were both omitted from the Christmas schedule, despite strong records and young talent. By season’s end, both teams made deep playoff runs, and the Thunder even made the Finals. The NBA took heat for that oversight and seems to be correcting course by featuring more up-and-coming squads this year. That means making tough choices, even at the expense of long-standing institutions like the Celtics.
Still, for Boston fans, the disappointment is real. The Christmas Day game has become a beloved tradition, a time when families gather not just to celebrate the holiday but to watch their team play on one of basketball’s biggest stages. Celtics basketball on December 25 has been a staple, and the team has produced memorable moments over the years. Whether it was Isaiah Thomas lighting up Madison Square Garden, or Jayson Tatum hitting game-winners against the Bucks, these games have provided joy, pride, and a sense of prestige. Not being a part of that this year feels like losing a small piece of what makes being a Celtics fan special.
This development also invites deeper reflection about the team’s current trajectory. Just a year or two ago, Boston was seen as the next team to dominate the East for years to come. With a young, talented core in Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and strong veteran support, they had both the talent and the depth to compete at the highest level. But in the NBA, nothing is ever guaranteed. Injuries, chemistry issues, and strategic missteps can derail even the most promising plans. The Celtics now find themselves at a crossroads. They are no longer the ascending force with a chip on their shoulder—they are an aging contender with uncertain health and a need to reestablish their identity.
That’s not to say the future is bleak. Brown is still in his prime, and the front office has shown a willingness to adapt and make bold moves when necessary. There’s also a solid group of younger players waiting for a chance to prove themselves. If anything, being left off the Christmas schedule could serve as motivation—a chance to regroup and remind the league why Boston is still a force to be reckoned with. The team might not get the national spotlight on December 25, but the grind of the regular season offers plenty of opportunities to earn it back.
From a broader perspective, this situation reveals how quickly things can change in the NBA. In just a matter of months, the Celtics have gone from Christmas Day regulars to notable omissions. The league’s desire to spotlight different teams and fresh narratives plays a role, but Boston’s circumstances certainly didn’t help. That said, the Celtics are not the first proud franchise to be left off the holiday slate, and they won’t be the last. This is part of the ebb and flow of professional sports. Peaks and valleys. Spotlights and shadows.
While fans may feel snubbed, the organization itself likely understands the business of it all. The NBA needs compelling television, healthy superstars, and intriguing storylines. Without Tatum, and with many of last season’s familiar faces elsewhere, Boston simply didn’t check enough boxes for the league this time around. It’s a bitter pill, but also a wake-up call—and perhaps even a challenge to reclaim their status in the league’s hierarchy.
Ultimately, Christmas Day in the NBA is about more than just basketball—it’s about image, perception, and narrative. In 2025, the Celtics find themselves momentarily removed from that conversation, but history suggests they won’t stay out for long. The franchise is too big, too proud, and too experienced to remain in the background for extended periods. The fire still burns, the fans still care, and the foundation is still strong.
So while there will be no Celtics game to watch on December 25 this year, there remains a strong sense that Boston will be back in the holiday spotlight soon. Until then, the team will have to do its talking on the court—day by day, game by game—reminding the world that they belong on the NBA’s biggest stage. Perhaps next Christmas, the Celtics will once again be part of that special tradition, with a rejuvenated squad and a renewed sense of purpose. For now, they’ll have to earn it all over again.
