NBA Cares Season of Giving: Players Bless Up And Dribble On Christmas

The NBA’s Christmas Day line up is full of contending teams and the league’s elite ball busters. Off the court, the NBA continues with its year-round spirit of community engagement as NBA Cares Season of Giving makes the holidays brighter for children and families in need. 

On Dec. 25, all teams playing will host special gift-giving presentations for children from local community organizations prior to tip-off. Players have been selflessly committed to improving the lives of others this entire Holiday season.

 BOSTON CELTICS @ TORONTO RAPTORS (12 P.M. ET, ESPN)

Boston Celtics players Jaylen Brown, Enes Kanter, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker and more visited children at Boston Children’s Hospital to bring gifts, have fun, and spread holiday cheer. 

Kyle Lowry hosted 150 residents of Red Door Shelter, an organization that provides housing to families in crisis, for a holiday party at Sky Zone Trampoline Park, complete with presents and a holiday meal.  

The NBA Champion continues to be the longest-tenured Raptor and the heart and soul of the community.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS @ PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (2:30 P.M. ET, ABC)

Milwaukee Bucks players Pat Connaughton, Eric Beldsoe, Wes Matthews and “The Big Ragu” Donte DiVincenzo took local youth from Silver Spring Neighborhood Center for a holiday shopping experience at Kohls. 

The Bucks are in first place in the East and they are also first in the hearts of local Milwaukee kids.

76ers’ Josh Richardson brought 10 kids from TAPS, an organization that provides support to families grieving the loss of loved ones serving in the military, to Reebok in Boston, giving them $500 each for some holiday shopping. 

 HOUSTON ROCKETS @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (5 P.M. ET, ABC)

Rockets baller Austin Rivers hosted Big Brothers Big Sisters for holiday shopping. 

Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha surprised Solomon Howard at the East Oakland Boxing Association’s after-school program with new equipment and gifts as part of Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways. 

 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS (8 P.M. ET, ABC/ESPN)

Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma  packed holiday meals for senior citizens as part of the Meals on Wheels program in LA. Kuzma, who is from Flint, Michigan also fitted the entire Flint Powers high school basketball program with new Pumas this week, 

LA Clippers players JaMychal Green, Montrezl Harrell, Ivica Zubac and Moe Harkless provided hot Thanksgiving meals and clothes to more than 50 families at the St. Joseph Center for the team’s Teamwork at the Table event. 

 NEW ORLEANS PELICANS @ DENVER NUGGETS (10:30 P.M. ET, ESPN)

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jaxson Hayes visited the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana to host a LEGO party for the holidays! 

These are the kinds of moments that deeply influence kids and they never forget.  

Denver Nuggets player Gary Harris hosted children and families from the Joshua School, a school for children on the autism spectrum, for a holiday movie experience, gifting the families Nuggets tickets, sensory-friendly gifts, popcorn and soda.

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