Posted on 04/21/2025 4:44:52 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Jackson says the NBA puts business ahead of sacred Christian holidays.
The NBA had a four-game payoff slate for Sunday, April 20, 2025, beginning with the league-best-seeded OKC Thunder hosting the Play-In Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference.
It was followed by the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, opening their title defense against the Orlando Magic, and the East's top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Miami Heat. In the nightcap, NBA fans were treated to a showdown between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors in the West.
But while a loaded Sunday slate like that is basketball heaven for NBA fans, former Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson wasn't too thrilled. He took exception to the league scheduling games on Easter Sunday and other Christian holidays.
Not the first time that Phil opposed the NBA
First of all, Jackson isn't active on social media. That tweet was only his second since 2018 and his first since sharing a trailer video of former teammate Bill Bradley's documentary "Rolling Along: An American Story" in February 2024. So, for him to resurrect his "X" account and criticize the league, it must be important to him. Looking at his background, it's easy to understand that.
Although Jackson practices Zen Buddhism, the foundation of his faith is Christianity. As a kid in Montana, he grew up in a strict religious household with his parents, Charles and Elisabeth Funk, both ministers for the Assemblies of God religion. Because of that, Phil has a deep understanding and a lot of respect for religious holidays.
This isn't the first time that Jackson has spoken against the NBA scheduling regular-season games during Christian holidays. In 2010, Phil also opposed having NBA games during Christmas Day out of respect for people's religious affiliation.
"It's like Christian holidays don't mean anything to them anymore. Just go out and play and entertain the TV. It's really weird … But it is what it is. We've got to go to work, and we'll do what we have to do to make the best of it…I don't think anyone should play on Christmas," the Zen Master said.
The league has games on holidays
Unfortunately for Jackson, Christmas Day is one of the NBA's most-anticipated playdates of the season. Since 2008, the NBA has had a blockbuster five-game slate on December 25. Last year, the NBA's Christmas Day games delivered an average audience of 5.25 million, the best in five years. With that kind of commercial success, Phil's complaint is most likely to fall on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, Easter Sunday is different because, unlike Christmas Day, it does not happen on a fixed date. This year, it just so happened to be a big event because it coincided with the playoffs. Next year, Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026, so it will most likely be an ordinary regular-season playing date. However, there could even be more than four games slated for that playdate since it falls during the regular season.
Aside from Christmas and Easter Sunday, the NBA also schedules games for another Christian holiday — Good Friday. Meanwhile, the only days when the NBA goes dark are Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve, both non-Christian holidays. But to be fair, it's not about religion; it's strictly business.
Jackson no longer watches the NBA, having said in April 2023 that it had become too political. "People want to see sports as non-political," he said.[63]
It don't work that way, Phil. It's Jesus or nothing, and there is nothing more nothing than Zen.
celebrate gay month but not easter.
that’s all you need to know.
With all this said ratings overall are down for the NBA no? I’m vaguely aware the NHL and NBA playoffs are underway but like Phil I won’t be watching any of it.
LeBron James to NFL: “Christmas is OUR day”
Zen Buddhism isn't a religion, it's a mental discipline and a life philosophy that is in no way, shape, form or fashion inconsistent with Christian beliefs.
The NBA believes whatever their Chinese paymasters want them to believe.
I remember watching Hakeem "The Dram" Olajowan power through many a game while fasting during Ramadan.
“The Dream”
EXACTLY..that is why you saw the likes of Steve Commie Kerr going after Trump for tariffs and also for not giving Hamas Harvard any money for their Jew hatred..the NBA is owned by China, whatever China says, the NBA does
From Zen to MAGA. I like this man.
Well, well. What is the religious affiliation of the NBA commissioner?
Just sayin’!!
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