The New York Knicks playing on Christmas Day has become a near-annual event, even when the team wasn’t good. Here is a ranking of the five best possible matchups for the Knicks on Christmas Day. The Knicks have actually played The Greek Freak twice on Christmas Day, in 2018 and 2023, while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. If they do play on Christmas Day, expect Joel Embiid to receive vociferous boos throughout the game. The Knicks defeated San Antonio in both the NBA Finals and the NBA Cup Finals last season.