As Easter Sunday fades into memory and playoff buzz kicks into gear, legendary coach Phil Jackson’s recent criticism of NBA holiday scheduling has reignited a conversation that’s been simmering for years. His comments, sharp and unapologetic, targeted the league’s insistence on staging games during sacred holidays like Easter and Christmas—days he believes should remain untouched. But as the TV ratings show, those days are becoming gold mines for viewership, and the networks aren’t about to step back.
In a media environment where every second of viewing is tracked—even at bars, restaurants, or hotel lounges—sports leagues have doubled down on big calendar days. Whether you’re gathering for faith or family, chances are someone’s checking the score. And that’s exactly what the leagues are counting on.
Jackson’s Rebuke Cuts Through the Noise
Phil Jackson doesn’t speak often these days, but when he does, ears perk up.
The coaching icon who led the Bulls and Lakers to 11 championships didn’t mince words when criticizing the NBA’s choice to schedule marquee matchups on holidays like Easter and Christmas. To him, these days mean more than basketball—they represent something sacred.
Jackson’s criticism comes at a time when the NBA, alongside the NFL and NHL, has leaned heavily into holiday scheduling. And while he’s not the first to raise objections, his stature gives the complaint extra weight. For many, hearing Jackson speak out felt like a voice from a more traditional era of sports—a time when games didn’t overtake holidays.
The Ratings Say Otherwise
If networks needed a reason to ignore Jackson’s concerns, the ratings from Easter Sunday gave them plenty.
In today’s ultra-competitive media landscape, viewership metrics don’t stop at the living room. Modern out-of-home measurements now account for millions of screens in airports, bars, restaurants, and even gyms. That means Easter, with its family gatherings and community meals, becomes a perfect window for eyeballs.
This year’s Easter Sunday featured key playoff clashes in the NBA and NHL, both pulling in impressive audience numbers. And the NFL, always quick to spot a trend, has followed suit with its own Christmas Day matchups.
-
NBA’s Easter Sunday games ranked among the top broadcasts of the weekend
-
NHL playoff matchups saw a notable boost in cable sports ratings
-
Out-of-home viewing accounted for nearly 25% of total Easter Sunday audience
Clearly, while Jackson and others may object, networks are winning the numbers game.
Easter’s Moving Date Makes It a Unique Target
Unlike Christmas, which reliably lands on December 25, Easter dances around the calendar.
This year, it landed during the early stages of the NBA and NHL playoffs. That timing turned what might normally be a soft Sunday into a high-stakes, high-drama ratings spike. But in years when Easter falls earlier—like in 2026, when it arrives April 5—there’s less playoff tension in the air.
The fluctuating nature of Easter changes how much emphasis leagues place on it. Sometimes it’s a tentpole moment. Other times, it’s just another regular season game. But the trend is clear: if there’s a chance people are home and near a screen, the games are on.
Not Everyone’s a Fan, But the Resistance Is Fading
Pushback to holiday scheduling still exists—but it’s not as loud as it once was.
While Phil Jackson’s comments stirred up headlines, they didn’t spark widespread outrage among players or coaches currently in the league. For many younger athletes, holiday games have become a norm, not a nuisance. In fact, some players even see them as honors—getting selected for a Christmas Day game is still a prestige marker in the NBA.
There’s also a broader cultural shift at play. Holidays are no longer viewed as off-limits in the same way they once were. With digital platforms and 24/7 sports coverage, the idea of “time off” from sports has largely disappeared. If anything, the appetite grows.
The NFL’s Christmas Play and the Future of Holiday Sports
The NBA may have kicked off the Christmas Day tradition, but the NFL has crashed the party.
In recent years, the league has shifted some of its most anticipated games to December 25. That move has created even more competition for the holiday audience, pushing networks to get creative—and aggressive—with their sports slates.
What used to be one or two games on a holiday has turned into wall-to-wall programming. And barring a major cultural reset, it’s only going to expand. With every big viewership win, the case for more holiday games gets stronger.
And while voices like Jackson’s remind us that not everyone’s cheering, the roar of the crowd—and the click of the remote—seems to be winning.
