Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard bring the star power that the NBA likes to showcase on its annual Christmas day schedule.  But they won't be playing this Christmas. And Bucks players, including Antetokounmpo,

Last year on Christmas Day, Dallas guard Luka Dončić dropped 50 points and 15 assists. The Celtics are nearly double-digit favorites against the 76ers. The defending champions are second in the East, while Philadelphia is outside the play-in tournament during the early part of the season.

The Christmas Day slate, which includes a matchup between LeBron James's Los Angeles Lakers and Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors, will tip off at 12 p.m. ET with a clash between the San Antonio Spurs (15–13) and the New York Knicks (18–10).

2024 marks the 77th year of the NBA staging high profile match-ups on Christmas Day and this year sees no let-up in the action with the league scheduling five attractive fixtures for fans to enjoy over the key day in the festive period.

The Bucks are having a hard time understanding why on Wednesday they won’t be one of the 10 teams playing on Christmas Day — viewed as one of the NBA’s signature days on the league

Giannis Antetokounmpo and some of his Milwaukee Bucks teammates weren't thrilled to learn they have Christmas Day off this year. Antetokounmpo told

While there was initial disappointment, it has turned into gratefulness over an unexpected chance to spend time with family on the holiday.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be featured in this year’s Christmas Day games in the NBA, and the superstar player does not like that fact, but he believes that the NBA has some kind of algorithm to determine the matchups and maximize viewership.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo voiced his frustration with the NBA’s decision to leave his team off the NBA Christmas Day schedule this season. The NBA’s Christmas Day games have been a tradition since the second season of the league in 1947,