For just the second time in six seasons, the Phoenix Suns will not be playing on Christmas. After trading Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal during the 2025 offseason and once again being projected to go under .500 by the sportsbooks, Phoenix will not be one of the ten teams suiting up on the holiday for the second straight season.
The premier holiday teams play on during the regular season, Phoenix is 13-9 all-time on Christmas, and in their four straight years playing on December 25th from 2021-2024, the Suns went 1-3 with their lone victory coming back in 2024 when Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant combined for 54 points to beat the Denver Nuggets 110-100.
Once Durant was traded and the Suns’ national spotlight dwindled, it was inevitable the team would not be playing on the holiday as often. It’s now been two seasons since Phoenix played on Christmas, and now Durant and Houston are not playing on the holiday as well, as Houston finished last season fifth in the West and lost in the first round to the Lakers. With the emergence of the San Antonio Spurs and a poor season, Houston’s status as a top team in the NBA has diminished, and they are not playing on the holiday despite employing the former Phoenix Suns superstar.
Suns fans will have to wait at least one more year to watch their team on the holiday again.
