The Knicks have become a Christmas Day fixture, even in seasons when they weren’t anywhere near the title picture. So it’s hardly a stretch to imagine New York back on December 25 again, this time with a fresh championship glow.
The bigger question is who gets the spotlight opposite them. There are plenty of candidates, but a few stand out above the rest as the most compelling holiday matchups.
At No. 5, the Miami Heat still carry some of that old juice. Their late-1990s battles with the Knicks were heavyweight stuff, and the rivalry flared again in the 2023 postseason when Miami beat New York in six games in the conference semifinals.
That series came during Jalen Brunson’s first season in New York. The Heat also now roster two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Knicks have already seen The Greek Freak on Christmas twice before, in 2018 and 2023, while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Indiana comes in at No. 4, mostly because the matchup has turned into a real thorn for New York. The Pacers knocked the Knicks out of the playoffs in back-to-back years, 2024 and 2025, and the Brunson-Tyrese Haliburton dynamic has given the series a friendly edge.
Indiana slid last season, though that came with Haliburton sidelined all year. The Pacers also will have Ivica Zubac manning the middle for a full season.
Even with all that, the holiday angle keeps this one from climbing higher, since Indiana has played on Christmas only four times in NBA history and not since 2004.
Philadelphia sits at No. 3, and the draw is obvious. This could be the opening-night game, with LeBron James making his regular-season debut with the 76ers against the defending champions.
That alone would be a ratings monster. If it lands on Christmas, Joel Embiid should expect a full night of boos, and Philadelphia would have revenge on its mind after the Knicks swept them in last season’s conference semifinals.
Boston checks in at No. 2, because Knicks-Celtics always carries weight. The two franchises bring one of the sport’s real rivalries, and New York shocked plenty of people in 2025 by beating Boston in six games in the conference semifinals.
There’s also the possibility this would be the first meeting between the teams at Madison Square Garden in the upcoming season, which would make for a memorable ring night for Mitchell Robinson. He spent eight years in New York, so the cheers would be loud before the boos kicked in once the game started.
The best possible Christmas opponent, though, is San Antonio. The Spurs and Knicks already met on Christmas Day in 2024, and San Antonio has taken a big leap since then.
New York beat the Spurs in both the NBA Finals and the NBA Cup Finals last season, which gives this one a built-in edge. Victor Wembanyama would get plenty of heat from the crowd after drawing so much ire during the NBA Finals, and maybe De’Aaron Fox would get a ring presentation too.
Kidding. I think.
In Other News...
Knicks Still Have A Center Need As Nick Richards Questions Grow
The Knicks still have a clear opening behind the top of their center rotation, and Nick Richards keeps coming up as the most logical name to fill it. The free agent has been on the radar as the team looks to settle its unsigned third-string center spot, but the silence has lingered long enough to make the situation feel more complicated than a simple depth move. The market for backup bigs has also shifted, giving players at that end of the roster more leverage than they used to have.
Part of the hold-up could be money, part of it could be role. Richards may be aiming above a minimum type of deal, while New York has reason to be careful about fit and defensive concerns. With Andre Drummond already lined up as the primary backup, the Knicks do not have an obvious path to sell Richards on a bigger opportunity, and that leaves the sides waiting to see whether the value gap can be closed before the roster picture changes. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Patience At Center Could Open A Surprising Roster Opportunity
The Knicks are still looking for center depth, and Micah Potter has become a name worth keeping on the radar. After being released by the Pacers and claimed off waivers by Portland, Potter landed with a team that already has extra competition at the back end of the roster, which makes his status worth watching closely from New Yorks perspective.
Potters strong 2025-26 season in Indiana gave him a better profile than a typical waiver pickup, and the Knicks could benefit if his situation in Portland turns quickly. For now, they are simply monitoring whether he becomes available again, but the appeal is obvious for a team that would like another option in the middle without forcing a move too soon. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face A Huge Karl-Anthony Towns Decision This Summer
Karl-Anthony Towns has quickly become a central figure in the Knicks recent rise, but his future in New York is now headed for a major financial crossroads. He is eligible for an extension this summer, and the decision comes with plenty of weight for a team trying to balance present-day success with long-term flexibility.
The front office has not yet settled on whether to commit to a max-level deal, and that uncertainty is already drawing attention given how much Towns means to the roster. He is set to make $57 million next season and carries a player option for the year after, so the Knicks have time on their side - but not much margin for error if they want to keep him locked in for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]