Legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson made a uncommon look on X Sunday, utilizing the platform for simply the second time since 2018 to criticize the NBA’s resolution to schedule video games on Easter. Jackson, who has largely distanced himself from the league lately, additionally took difficulty with video games being held on Christmas Day—lengthy thought-about one of many NBA’s premier occasions—referring to each holidays as “sacred days.”
“Once more the NBA assessments religion by enjoying a number of video games on Christmas and Easter…sacred days,” Jackson mentioned in his social media put up.
The NBA scheduled 4 postseason video games on Easter Sunday, although none turned out to be significantly aggressive.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder opened their playoff run with a historic 131-80 blowout over the Memphis Grizzlies, marking the most important margin of victory ever in a Sport 1. Elsewhere, Boston dealt with the Orlando Magic 103-86, top-seeded Cleveland cruised previous Miami 121-100, and the Golden State Warriors held off the Houston Rockets 95-85.
With the league already dealing with declining viewership, it’s unclear what number of followers truly tuned in. Nonetheless, Jackson’s criticism resonates, particularly on condition that different leagues—MLB, NHL, and NFL—have confronted comparable backlash for holding video games on historically sacred holidays.
Phil Jackson’s criticism of the NBA
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This isn’t the primary time Phil Jackson has voiced criticism of the NBA. Regardless of claiming in 2023 that he not watched video games as a result of the league had grow to be too “political,” his latest put up suggests he’s nonetheless listening to how the NBA operates.
Christmas and Easter maintain deep significance in many non secular traditions and past, and Jackson isn’t the primary sports activities determine to lift issues about scheduling video games on these holidays. Nonetheless, that debate appears settled, with main leagues persevering with to play by way of them.
Easter does pose a barely totally different case, because the date shifts every year. In 2026, as an illustration, Easter Sunday lands on April 5—earlier than the NBA and NHL playoffs start.
Whereas leagues just like the NBA, NHL, and MLB are nonetheless anticipated to schedule video games, these matchups may carry much less weight in the event that they fall exterior of the postseason highlight.
No matter Jackson’s opinion, vacation sports activities aren’t disappearing anytime quickly. Main League Baseball ran a full slate of video games on Easter, because it sometimes does, and the NBA had no intention of stepping apart. On Christmas Day, the NBA has even discovered itself in a rising battle with the NFL over who instructions probably the most consideration throughout one of many league’s signature dates.
Jackson has largely remained silent on NBA affairs since stepping down as president of the New York Knicks in 2017. He even skipped a workforce reunion two years in the past, although he did make a uncommon public look in 2024 to pay tribute to Kobe Bryant. Whereas most followers don’t have any difficulty with the NBA holding video games on Easter, Jackson—true to type—is voicing a dissenting opinion.