A handful of former Tennessee Volunteers are set to spend Christmas Day on an NBA floor this winter, with the league unveiling its five-game slate for Dec. 25 on Tuesday morning.
The action opens with Spurs at Knicks at Noon ET, and that matchup could feature VFL Tobias Harris. Harris signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the defending Western Conference champs in July and is expected to be a steady veteran presence for San Antonio this season, much like the role he filled with the Pistons a year ago.
There’s also a chance the Spurs have another former Vol in the mix. Rookie Ja’Kobi Gillespie was selected by San Antonio in the second round of the NBA Draft this summer and is competing for a roster spot this fall. He’s currently on a two-way contract, which leaves his Christmas status up in the air since he could be with the NBA club or in the G-League by then.
Gillespie got a solid run in Summer League, averaging 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across four games for the Spurs.
Dalton Knecht is the other Tennessee alum currently lined up for Christmas Day duties. The Lakers will host the 76ers at 5:00 p.m., giving Knecht a spot in Los Angeles’ holiday showcase, though his future with the team has been a topic of speculation this offseason.
Knecht is entering his third season, but his role has shrunk. He appeared in 78 games as a rookie and averaged 19.2 minutes per game, then played in 54 games last season while seeing that number fall to 10.2 minutes per contest. His shooting percentages from the field and from three dipped a bit from Year 1 to Year 2, and the limited usage has only added to the uncertainty around his place in the rotation.
The rest of the Christmas Day schedule includes Heat at Celtics and Thunder at Timberwolves, with the night wrapping up with Nuggets at Warriors.
The full slate on ABC and ESPN is Spurs at Knicks, Heat at Celtics, 76ers at Lakers, Thunder at Timberwolves, and Nuggets at Warriors.
In Other News...
Tennessee QB Battle Just Got More Complicated For Faizon Brandon
The quarterback competition in Knoxville has already become one of the biggest storylines of camp, with Ryan Staub, George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon all in the mix as Tennessee works toward a decision before the season opener against Furman. Brandon arrived with plenty of attention of his own, and even in a crowded room, the freshman has been a name worth watching because of the tools that made him such a coveted addition.
ESPNs early view of the SECs 2026 freshman class only added to that buzz, placing Brandon near the top of the conferences incoming talent. What keeps the intrigue high for Tennessee is how his arm talent fits Josh Heupels offense, and whether that upside can ultimately separate him from the other contenders as the Volunteers sort through the race. [Read more 🡒]
Vols Red Zone Reps Offer An Early QB Clue As Receiver Concern Grows
Tennessees fifth fall camp practice offered another early look at the quarterback competition, and the red-zone work was where the picture began to sharpen. Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub all got involved in passing drills, with Brandon and MacIntyre handling most of the first-team snaps as the Vols continued sorting out who is separating from the pack. With media allowed to watch the opening periods, the drill work was one of the more useful snapshots yet of how the offense is being organized near the goal line.
The other storyline was at receiver, where Radarious Jackson had a limited day and the margin for error felt even smaller. His reps were brief and the results were uneven, with drops and accuracy issues showing up while Tennessee monitored the position group through camp. The bigger question now is not just how the quarterbacks keep stacking these reps, but how quickly the Vols can get steadier production from a receiving room that already looks like it may need answers. [Read more 🡒]
James Pearce Jr's NFL Rise Just Hit A Serious Concern
James Pearce Jr.'s rookie year in Atlanta has already taken an unexpected turn, with the former Tennessee edge rusher now facing a potential absence that could alter the Falcons' defensive plans. Atlanta moved up in the 2025 first round to get him, banking on his talent to help a unit that is already dealing with injuries to other key players, and his rise from Knoxville to the NFL had been one of the more closely watched storylines surrounding the franchise.
Now the concern is not just on-field development, but availability. Pearce's situation traces back to a February arrest involving multiple felony charges after an alleged altercation, and the NFL's personal conduct policy looms over the case as Atlanta waits to see how long it may be without a player it invested heavily in less than a year ago. [Read more 🡒]