Barkley Blasts NFL for 'Hogging' Christmas in NBA vs NFL Debate

The NBA legend and commentator criticizes the NFL's expansion of Christmas Day games, sparking a heated discussion on sports territory and ratings.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:56am

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Charles Barkley, the former NBA star turned insightful commentator, has sparked a debate by expressing his bafflement that the NFL hasn't expanded to San Antonio and by criticizing the league for 'hogging' Christmas Day games. Barkley lamented how the NFL has muscled in on what he believes should be an exclusive NBA holiday, portraying the football league's executives as 'greedy pigs' encroaching on basketball's territory.

Why it matters

The debate over which sport 'owns' Christmas Day programming highlights the competitive nature of the sports landscape and the battle for television ratings and viewership. While the NBA has traditionally dominated Christmas Day, the NFL has increasingly scheduled games on the holiday, capitalizing on the captive audience and drawing bigger crowds even with lesser-quality matchups.

The details

In a segment on Inside the NBA, Barkley expressed his belief that the NFL has become too greedy, expanding its footprint to include Christmas Day games that he feels should belong to the NBA. Barkley argued that the NFL's move to schedule up to three games on Christmas has taken away what was once an exclusive basketball holiday. The NBA, on the other hand, has delivered a stellar array of high-energy, star-studded matchups on ABC, but the NFL's lesser-quality offerings are still poised to eclipse the basketball broadcasts in ratings.

  • The NFL has long understood the potential of scheduling games on Christmas, capitalizing on the captive audience of families gathered around TVs.
  • This year, the NFL is scheduled to air up to three games on Christmas Day.

The players

Charles Barkley

A former NBA star turned insightful commentator who has sparked a debate over the NFL's encroachment on what he believes should be an exclusive NBA holiday.

Roger Goodell

The commissioner of the NFL, whom Barkley accused of being a 'pig' and greedy for expanding the league's footprint to include Christmas Day games.

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What they’re saying

“The NFL got greedy and started adding Christmas games. We used to have this day to ourselves, but Roger Goodell and those pigs at the NFL always want to hog every day of the week now. Christmas is an NBA day.”

— Charles Barkley, NBA Commentator

What’s next

The debate over the NFL's encroachment on Christmas Day programming is likely to continue, with fans and sports enthusiasts weighing in on whether certain holidays should be reserved for specific leagues or if it's all fair game in the competitive world of sports ratings and viewership.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing battle for sports supremacy and the fight for television audiences, with the NBA and NFL vying for dominance on one of the most significant holidays of the year. While Barkley's comments may be driven by loyalty to the NBA, the broader issue raises questions about the commercialization of holidays and whether certain sports should have exclusive rights to certain days.