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[Saba Sports News] Phil Jackson has largely stayed out of the NBA spotlight in recent years, but the legendary coach briefly reemerged on Sunday to share a rare critique of the league.
Jackson took to his seldom-used X (formerly Twitter) account to express disappointment over the NBA scheduling games on Easter Sunday and Christmas—both of which he referred to as “sacred days.”
“Again the NBA tests faith by playing multiple games on Christmas and Easter…sacred days,” Jackson wrote.
The post marked just Jackson’s second on the platform since June 2018, highlighting how strongly he must have felt to speak out.
Despite Jackson’s disapproval, holiday games are entrenched in the sports calendar. Major League Baseball played a full slate on Easter, as it routinely does, and the NBA had no plans to skip the holiday either.
Christmas Day, in particular, has long been a marquee event for the NBA, often competing with the NFL for viewership.
Since stepping away from his front-office role with the New York Knicks in 2017, Jackson has rarely commented on league affairs. He even skipped a reunion for one of his former teams two years ago, although he did make a rare public appearance in 2024 to honor the late Kobe Bryant.
Most fans seem unbothered by Easter games, viewing them as part of the modern sports experience. But as is often the case, Jackson isn’t afraid to go against the grain.