What Will It Take for the Utah Jazz to Earn a Christmas Day Spotlight Again?
The NBA’s Christmas Day slate is reserved for the league’s most watchable teams - the ones with star power, big-market appeal, or a compelling on-court product that fans can’t ignore. This year, the Utah Jazz weren’t part of that showcase. And while that’s not exactly shocking, it does raise a fair question: what’s it going to take for Utah to get back under the holiday lights?
Let’s be clear - the Jazz aren’t bottom-feeders. But they’re also not lighting up league headlines or generating national buzz right now. And in today’s NBA, especially for a small-market team, that’s the difference between playing on Christmas and watching from home.
Still, there’s a blueprint. Just ask Minnesota, Denver, or Oklahoma City - all small-market squads that earned their place in the Christmas Day spotlight.
Each of those franchises has figured out how to punch above their market size. Here’s how the Jazz can follow suit.
1. **Win.
And Win Big. **
This one’s obvious, but it’s also non-negotiable. The NBA has no problem putting small-market teams on Christmas - but only if they’re elite.
The Thunder, Nuggets, and Timberwolves didn’t land on the marquee because of geography. They got there because they’re among the league’s top-tier teams.
For Utah, that means raising the bar - significantly. The Jazz don’t need to be title favorites, but they need to be in the conversation.
Think top-four in the West, or at least a team that’s clearly trending in that direction. The Timberwolves are a perfect example.
They’ve built a real contender, and now they’re reaping the rewards - including national TV windows and Christmas Day shine.
The Jazz, meanwhile, haven’t played on Christmas since 2021 - the final season of the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert era. Since then, they’ve been in a rebuild, and the league doesn’t hand out holiday games for potential. They want proof.
That’s the tough part of being in a smaller market. Teams like the Lakers and Knicks?
They get Christmas games no matter where they are in the standings. It’s not fair, but it’s the reality.
For Utah, the only way in is to be undeniably good.
2. Be a Thorn in a Contender’s Side
Even if the Jazz aren’t among the league’s elite just yet, there’s another path: become the team that gives the elite squads fits.
Look at what we saw on Christmas Day. Denver and Oklahoma City - two of the West’s top dogs - were pushed to the edge by teams like San Antonio and Minnesota.
That dynamic - Goliath getting tested by a feisty underdog - makes for great TV. It’s the kind of matchup that turns heads, even if one of the teams isn’t a title favorite.
If Utah can become that kind of team - the one that consistently gives the contenders problems - they’ll start to build a reputation. And that reputation can earn you a Christmas invite. Because when you make the big dogs sweat, the league takes notice.
The Jazz don’t have to be the West’s best team tomorrow. But if they start showing they can hang with - or even knock off - the best, they’ll become a team worth watching. And that’s what Christmas Day is all about.
3. Star Power Still Matters
Let’s not kid ourselves - names move the needle. One of the biggest reasons Denver, Minnesota, and OKC were featured this year?
They’ve got headliners. Nikola Jokić.
Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Edwards.
These are players who don’t just perform - they wow.
The Jazz aren’t empty-handed here, but they’re not quite in that tier either.
Lauri Markkanen is a legit player - a former All-Star with a unique skill set and a strong start to the season. But he’s not yet a household name in the way those other guys are. And if we’re being honest, he’s not the kind of name that’s going to drive casual fans to tune in on Christmas morning.
That said, there’s real promise on the roster. Keyonte George has flashed serious potential - he’s quick, confident, and has shown he can take over stretches of a game.
Ace Bailey’s rookie season has had its ups and downs, but the flashes are there. He’s got the kind of athleticism and swagger that could eventually make him must-see TV.
No, they’re not Jokic or Edwards. Not yet.
But they don’t have to be - at least not right now. What they need is to keep developing, keep showing out, and keep giving fans a reason to believe they’re building something special.
Because when a young core starts to take off, the league pays attention.
The Bottom Line
The Jazz don’t have a Christmas Day game problem. They have a relevance problem. And that’s something they can fix.
Winning, competing with the league’s best, and developing star talent - that’s the formula. It’s worked for other small-market teams, and there’s no reason it can’t work in Salt Lake City too.
The last time the Jazz played on Christmas, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were still in town - and both of them were back on the holiday schedule this year with their new teams. That’s no coincidence.
The NBA showcases stars and contenders. If Utah wants back in the mix, they’ll need to become both.
The good news? The path is clear. Now it’s about walking it.