This season the Celtics, Raptors, Bucks, 76ers, Rockets, Warriors, Clippers, Celtics, Pelicans, and Nuggets were the 10 teams chosen to play on the Christmas Day spotlight.
The opportunity to play on Christmas, when the NBA commands the most attention, is a big deal — and one Dwyane Wade wants to see turned into an All-Star like selection process to reward the teams off to the best start to the season. Beyond the chance to be in the national spotlight, the teams and players participating in the Christmas Day games (along with many others around the league) take the time to give back to their local communities during the holiday season, much like their community work around Thanksgiving. Here are just some of the many things these players and teams did — which you can see more of on the NBA Cares Twitter page.
The Celtics spent some time earlier this month at Boston Children’s Hospital, bringing gifts and visiting with the children.
We had such a special afternoon spreading holiday cheer with our friends from @BostonChildrens! ✨#NBACares | #CelticsAssist pic.twitter.com/bzvAld0EQ6
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 6, 2019
Kyle Lowry hosted 150 people from Red Door Shelter, which provides housing for families in need, for a party at a trampoline park, along with a dinner and gifts. Lowry and Fred VanVleet also took local children on a shopping spree.
The Lowry's doing their part during the holiday season. @Klow7 | #LowrysHolidayAssist pic.twitter.com/EZY57RtO8A
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 14, 2019
'Tis the #SeasonofGiving, and the @raptors @FredVanVleet & @Klow7 helped bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of children in Toronto! #NBACares #NBAXMAS
❄️ 12:00pm/et, @ESPNNBA@celtics x @Raptors pic.twitter.com/V5jtkCPSB1
— NBA Cares (@nbacares) December 25, 2019
Bucks players took local youth from Silver Spring Neighborhood Center on a shopping spree at Kohl’s, and Khris Middleton hosted his 12 Days of Khrismas.
Behind the scenes with @WessyWes23 as the Bucks treat local youth to a shopping spree at @kohls:@gruber_law | @buckscommunity pic.twitter.com/na1b8Cv2co
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/nbacares/status/1209911689283592198
Josh Richardson of the Sixers took 10 children from TAPS, an organization that assists families of military members that have died, on a Reebok shopping trip. The Sixers also had a gift giveaway prior to their game against the Bucks.
Holiday cheer filled @reebok HQ in Boston tonight when @J_Rich1 of the @sixers greeted @TAPSorg families and surprised the kids with a shopping spree and shoes! We are grateful to Josh for his support and to everyone at #Reebok for the warm welcome given to our families.🎄🏀🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3lMtLouMx0
— teams4taps (@teams4taps) December 12, 2019
Before today’s game, the @sixers closed out the #SeasonofGiving by surprising 40 students from Philadelphia’s Bethune Elementary with holiday gifts! @nbacares | #NBAXmas pic.twitter.com/d2SqHCb8BS
— SIXERS STRONG (@SIXERSSTRONG) December 26, 2019
Austin Rivers, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook each hosted events for local children with shopping sprees and dinner.
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1203131967111385088
'Tis the #SeasonofGiving, and the @HoustonRockets @russwest44 hosted a holiday party filled with games & gifts for kids in the Houston area! #NBAXmas #NBACares
❄️ 5:00pm/et, ABC @HoustonRockets x @warriors pic.twitter.com/IvThzuiB8E
— NBA Cares (@nbacares) December 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1209858840063164418
Stephen and Ayesha Curry gave East Oakland Boxing Association new equipment and gifts for their after school program, in partnership with Ellen Degeneres. The Warriors also provided gifts and visited with kids from the Oakland Public Education Fund and the Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco.
Thank you @TheEllenShow for helping us change lives!!! Solomon, keep doing the great work! https://t.co/OWGEXrfUf8
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) December 12, 2019
.@warriors players present gifts to youth from @oaklandedfund + @bgcsf
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays #DubNation
Thank you @beatsbydre 🎧 for the gifts.#SeasonOfGiving 🎁 #NBACares pic.twitter.com/CljynAUNtn
— Warriors In The Community (@DubsCommunity) December 26, 2019
Kyle Kuzma helped pack meals for senior citizens with Meals on Wheels ahead of the holidays, Anthony Davis held a shopping spree for 100 kids, and the Lakers hosted a holiday party for local kids.
This Thanksgiving, @kylekuzma gave back by packing holiday meals for senior citizens with the Meals on Wheels program in LA.
Happy Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/4NZIkY9udl
— Lakers Community (@LakersCommunity) November 28, 2019
Los Angeles Laker @AntDavis23 and his foundation spread holiday cheer and made dreams come true while shopping for Christmas presents with 100 members of the @BGCMLA and Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley🎄🎁 #ChallengersClubhouse #NickersonGardensClubhouse #BGCMLA pic.twitter.com/H2uJsGEbsu
— Lakers Community (@LakersCommunity) December 24, 2019
The team was out spreading holiday cheer at the Holiday Party for Kids 🎄🎁 #NBACares pic.twitter.com/me9WAZQIoy
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 22, 2019
Patrick Patterson and Rodney McGruder visited the Adopt-A-Family holiday event with gifts and dinner with the kids.
“At the end of the day, it’s about being part of something that’s bigger than yourself.”
Last week, @pdpatt and @rodneymcgruder joined @LACFoundation’s annual Adopt-A-Family event for dinner, gifts and story time with families.#SeasonOfGiving | #NBACares pic.twitter.com/2YmFw9lG5o
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 20, 2019
Pelicans rookie Jaxson Hayes had a Lego party for the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana and Lonzo Ball visited with kids from the Bridge School for a meal and provided them with gift cards.
.@hayes_jaxson came through the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana to host a LEGO party for the holidays! pic.twitter.com/iTKxxlSlKz
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 2, 2019
Lonzo Ball visited students at the Bridge School today! Lonzo shared a meal with the students and then surprised them with a gift 🎁 to encourage them to continue to push towards their goals.
📸For more photos from today: https://t.co/mtTY0QOMaL pic.twitter.com/88AKC10QTD
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 16, 2019
Gary Harris of the Nuggets had kids from Joshua Tree, a school for children on the autism spectrum, out for a movie night and provided then tickets to future Nuggets games and sensory-friendly gifts.
“For these little kids, for them to come out and enjoy a movie for the holidays is great. I’m glad I can be a part of it.”#MileHighBasketball https://t.co/v0PuE7DOE4
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 14, 2019