Celtics' Christmas Day Game Can Now Be Set in Stone

Jul 24, 2026 - 17:10

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The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers were already trending toward playing each other on Christmas Day.

After Friday, it's all but set in stone.

The NBA hasn't announced such a matchup yet, but it would be shocking if they went in any other direction.

The final cherry on top of the cake: LeBron James signed with the 76ers on Friday.

He joins a star-studded cast that will make Philadelphia one of the Eastern Conference favorites for the season ahead.

And obviously, the narratives are strong.

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The Celtics and 76ers had already pulled off a blockbuster trade this offseason. Jaylen Brown went to Philadelphia for Paul George and draft picks.

That swap of JB for PG was probably already enough to make these teams logical foes on Christmas.

The presence of LeBron? It probably gets this game moved to one of the most glamorous spots on the Dec. 25 calendar, either the dinner time or primetime windows.

The Celtics and 76ers are no strangers to big games against one another, and each time they play throughout the 2026-27 season will make for must-see TV.

Christmas, though, will add a whole extra spark to the whole thing.

If the NBA wanted to throw a curveball, it could have LeBron and the 76ers play the Lakers on Christmas, or even have the Lakers play the Celtics for the sake of that rivalry.

But come on -- East Coast Bias or not, this one is too obvious. Celtics-Sixers on Christmas makes way too much sense.