:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63998938/usa_today_9759447.0.jpg)
According to WIP’s Jon Johnson, tens of thousands of Sixers fans may have somewhere else to head other than Grandma’s house this December 25.
Per source: Sixers. Christmas. Wells Fargo Center.
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) June 12, 2019
It would mark the third straight Christmas Day game for the Sixers, who defeated the Knicks in 2017 and lost in overtime to the Celtics in 2018. However, both of those games came on the road. The NBA dishes out these high-profile holiday games as a sort of status symbol regarding which teams “matter” in the league, and getting hosting duties is an additional feather in a team’s cap.
If Toronto wins the title tonight, Philadelphia can reasonably voice a claim as the second-best team in the NBA this past season (factoring in Kevin Durant’s injuries). It’s no surprise that the league will view the Sixers as a major attraction next year as well. Hopefully, Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris both like the idea of working on a holiday.
It’s a real shame these Christmas Day games for Philadelphia came after both the Jrue Holiday and Nerlens Noel eras (the marketing teams would have had a bonanza), but I know one Sixers star that always looks good getting into the holiday spirit.
Santa Embiid on @phillymag pic.twitter.com/271D7O1737
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) November 28, 2017