NBA commissioner Adam Silver turned down Pat McAfee’s suggestion of making way for the NFL on Christmas Day.

December 25 has been dominated by basketball games for a long time now.
Adam Silver speaking into a microphone with NBA and TNT logos, with NBA All-Star players in the background.NBA commissioner Adam Silver turned down Pat McAfee’s suggestion of making way for the NFL on Christmas DayCredit: Getty Images
 
Pat McAfee wearing a patriotic jacket at the Georgia v. Tennessee game.McAfee made his suggestion after last year’s ratingsCredit: ISI Photos via Getty Images
However, the NFL has been trying to swoop in by setting up a few games on Christmas.

Last season, the NFL partnered up with Netflix and broadcasted a festive double header.

That led to 24million viewers, while the NBA attracted an audience of 8.3m that day.

Last year’s numbers led McAfee, 38, to invite Silver, 63, to his Pat McAfee Show on ESPN.

The former Indianapolis Colts star asked whether the NBA might shift away from Christmas Day to Christmas Eve.

That would help the NBA to stake out its own day on the holiday calendar once again.

Silver laughed and issued a cautious response: “The NFL has joined us. We have more competition…”

McAfee insisted on his suggestion and reiterated the question to his guest.

Silver responded: “I don’t know. No plan to do it at the moment.”

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The NBA continues to grow following their link-up with CBS to kick off the season.

The famous broadcasters opened things up with nostalgic music and some of basketball‘s best analysts.

That included the likes of Mike Tirico, Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller taking center stage.

NBA legend Michael Jordan also joined NBC for the historic broadcast.

And Jordan admitted he wishes he could be back playing competitive basketball.

Jordan said: “In all honesty, I wish I could take a magic pill, put on shorts and go out and play the game of basketball today. Because that’s who I am.

NBA keeps growing

“That type of competition, that type of competitiveness is what I live for.

“And I miss it. I miss that aspect of playing basketball – being able to challenge myself against what people see as great basketball.

“But it’s better for me to be sitting here talking to you, as opposed to popping my Achilles and I’m in a wheelchair for a while.

‘It’s amazing, you never really know – when you’re in the prime of your career – how much time you really do not have for family.

“That’s what I have time to do now. The most valuable asset I have is time. So that’s probably why you don’t see enough of me.

“Because that time I’m trying to spend with family members and things I’ve been missing out on for such a long time.”