Phil Jackson Criticizes NBA for Easter, Christmas Games

Legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson publicly criticized the NBA for scheduling games on Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas, referring to these as 'sacred days' and questioning the league's respect for religious observance. Jackson, who rarely uses social media, broke his silence to express his disapproval, noting that the NBA has maintained its tradition of Christmas Day games since 1947 and frequently schedules playoff games on Easter. While Jackson's spiritual background is well known—he was raised Pentecostal and has integrated various religious philosophies into his coaching—his stance is not expected to influence the NBA’s scheduling practices, which also include games during other religious observances like Jewish holidays and Ramadan. Despite his criticism, major sporting leagues, including MLB and the NHL, also hold games on religious holidays, reflecting a broader trend in American sports. Most NBA fans appear unbothered by the holiday scheduling, viewing Jackson’s comments as a minority viewpoint. Jackson's post, however, underscores his ongoing interest in league affairs despite previous statements distancing himself from the NBA due to its political direction.