Ranking the 2022 NBA Christmas games by intrigue

As you’re dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, you may wonder which 2022 NBA Christmas game you’re most excited to settle in for.

The NBA released its Christmas schedule last week, revealing the annual quintuple-header of games for December 25. Action starts at noon ET and will likely continue through about 1 AM ET, with all games on ESPN and three simulcasted on ABC.

Check out the full schedule:

The amount of narratives people can get out of those five games is nearly endless. Will the New York Knicks return to being a playoff team? What about the Los Angeles Lakers? Will the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics play in the Eastern Conference Finals? Memphis and Golden State in the Western Conference Finals? Phoenix and Denver?

With the NBA Christmas schedule for 2022 released, let’s take a look at the games, from least to most intriguing for the fans.

There are almost just as many storylines involving the teams that aren’t playing on Christmas. It may prove to be a mistake to leave the Brooklyn Nets out of the fold, considering the drama currently enveloping them. There’s also no Zion Williamson or Trae Young or LaMelo Ball. That would’ve been fun.

Meanwhile, LeBron James is poised to make Christmas history. Assuming he suits up for the Lakers on December 25, he’ll become the first player to appear in 17 Christmas games. As the holiday tradition is currently constructed, that’s a record that may never fall.

Is that record the most intriguing part of the day? Let’s rank the games, from worst to first.