Nothin' But Nets
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Complete history of the Brooklyn Nets playing on Christmas Day

By Jordanna Clark

Dec 25, 2020; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brooklyn Nets small forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots a three point jump shot against Boston Celtics center Tristan Thompson (13) defending during the third quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2020; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brooklyn Nets small forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots a three point jump shot against Boston Celtics center Tristan Thompson (13) defending during the third quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers during an electrifying NBA Christmas Day slate. But it wasn’t until recently the franchise started getting more games on the holiday.

The Nets have played in 11 games on Christmas (one of those taking place in the ABA) and have a 5-6 record on Dec. 25. Brooklyn’s only beaten the Knicks and Celtics, but will have the opportunity to add the Lakers to that list this week.

For the second straight year, Brooklyn will travel on Christmas and this will hopefully (due to health and safety protocols) feature the first matchup between Kevin Durant and LeBron James since … 2018! How has it been that long? That’ll add to the history of the Nets’ holiday ventures.

How have the Nets fared on Christmas Day in years past? Let’s take a journey back in time, beginning with the 1968-69 season.

The history of the Brooklyn Nets playing on Christmas Day

Dec. 25, 1968

The New York Nets left their previous name, the New Jersey Americans, behind during the 1968-69 season when they moved to Long Island. It was a dismal year during New York’s second season in the ABA. The Nets won a total of 17 games for the worst record (17-61) in the league. Because of that, attendance was an issue, and that was no different on Dec. 25.

On Christmas, the Nets (the name chosen because it rhymed with the Jets and Mets) welcomed the Denver Rockets to Commack Arena for the second time. Their home court was placed over an ice rink so therefore water would ooze out from underneath the floor. The environment might’ve been appropriate for the holiday, but only 249 fans chose to spend part of their day watching this game.

Denver led by four entering the third quarter, but outscored New York by 23 points in the final half on the way to a 129-110 victory. The Nets still managed to have five players score in double-digits. Ron Perry had 30, Levern Tart 20, Hank Whitney 17, Bob Verga 14, and Ollie Darden 14. Larry Jones led the Rockets with a game-high 32 points.

The win left Denver with a 17-11 record and New York fell to 10-18.