How the Milwaukee Bucks will celebrate Christmas in New York: Trees, family and Broadway

The Milwaukee Bucks departed Friday for a somewhat unusual road trip – five days in one city. The Bucks played the New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon and will face them again Christmas Day at 11 a.m. The Bucks then conclude their stay in the Big Apple with a trip into Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Working on or being away from home on holidays is nothing new for NBA players, but the unique scheduling of the trip meant the Bucks will spend the entire Christmas holiday in New York City. While not every member of the organization’s traveling party – which often includes members of the front office, along with all the support staff, coaches and players – have partners or children, the Bucks elected to make it a family trip.

“No. 1, this is a first-class organization,” first-year Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said. “We understand that family is important. It’s important to the players. In my experience in the NBA, it’s hard to spend those times with your loved ones. We’re able to do that and have our families with us.

"In saying that, it’s also a business trip. But this is s a veteran group, they know what’s at stake, they know how to get themselves ready. I thought it was a great gesture by (general manager) Jon (Horst) and the entire Bucks organization to make sure that the families are included. The kids can come. I think that’s very important.”

Below are the thought of some of the Bucks players on the “Christmas trip” as they head East:

Bobby Portis: "I didn’t even put a tree up this year. At the crib, like, I don’t even have a tree up ‘cause on the 22^nd, which is Friday, we leave. Obviously I ain’t gonna be able to open no presents under my tree (laughs). I ain’t going to have my presents just sitting at the crib under the tree for five, six days after Christmas. Obviously it’s what our job entails us to do, is what the work calls for. When we have to go play high-level basketball on the road, that’s what we have to do. We’ll come back and celebrate Christmas afterwards, or if guys have kids they’ll probably celebrate it before – which is probably not the same feeling, waking up and being at home with your loved ones and things."

Malik Beasley: "For the most part on Christmas Day I usually travel. We’re usually a team that plays the next day, but since I got here we’re playing on Christmas Day so it’s a blessing. I’m going to get a fake Christmas tree to put in my room, the family is coming with us and we’re going to have that Christmas spirit. Play the game and then come back and open presents. I think it’s a little too early to do presents at like 7 a.m. for a 12 p.m. game so, I’m just excited to be there, especially in New York."

Pat Connaughton: Aside from home, there’s no place like New York on Christmas, right? I know a lot of people love New York at Christmastime so we’re fortunate to be able to spend it there. I feel for the guys who have families, wives, kids. They’re gonna be visited by Santa in a different place this year, not necessarily at their home. Making sure that hopefully they’re able to travel with us or be there for it and you’re able to celebrate in a little bit of a unique way."

Khris Middleton: "I think every time we play on Christmas most of the guys have their family with them, at least I have. I think that’s most important no matter where we’re at, that on holidays you spend time with you family even if you gotta work. But it is weird that we’re in New York for what, four or five days. That usually doesn’t happen to us."

Giannis Antetokounmpo: "Obviously I want to bring my family, my kids. The in-laws. But not just the in-laws just from my side, from everybody’s side. From my bothers. Everybody’s going to be there. It’s going to be like a huge party. I want to try to go to maybe a Broadway show. I watched the Michael Jackson (show), I watched a couple years ago. It was really good. My brother Thanasis watched Harry Potter. This is a plug right now – if I can get free tickets. Because I look at the tickets, it was $450. For 25 people I don’t know if I can do that. But, yeah, kids going to be there. In-laws. My mom is going to be there. My brother (Alex) is going to be there. He also has a game against the Long Island Nets I think (in the G League). So we’ll be able to celebrate Christmas. Go to the first game, then go to the Christmas game and then go to the Nets game. It’s going to be a few days that everybody’s going to be there.

Bucks in spotlight vs. Knicks on Christmas Day

As for the Christmas game, the Bucks are playing on the league’s showcase day for the sixth straight year, having gone 3-2 in the previous five. It is the organization’s 10^th game on Christmas. The Bucks return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2018. The Knicks are playing their 55^th game on the holiday.

The holiday will mark the fifth time the Bucks played the Knicks – a solid team that could be a playoff opponent.

Middleton: "I think we’re prepared for it. We know it’s a meaningful holiday but it’s still a business trip."

A dozen of the active players on the Bucks roster have played on Christmas and the slot still holds a place of importance in the league.

Connaughton: "We’re fortunate to be able to play this game and Christmas Day is a huge day for the NBA and we’re fortunate to be a good team that gets to play on Christmas. We have a few guys that people want to watch on Christmas. To be able to look at it from a positive standpoint of hey, it’s not about not being able to be home in the comfort of your own house but it’s about getting the ability to be on Christmas. Not many people can say that they’ve done that. I remember watching Christmas Day games when I was growing up at my Nana’s house always dreaming and wishing of being able to play in them. So, it’s something that none of us take for granted. It’s something that we want to make sure that we’re making the most of and then trying to find some time to spend with family around it."

Beasley: "Oh definitely. Because when I was a kid in high school, middle school, we watched it. I knew for sure on Christmas Day we’d open presents and my mom is cooking we’re watching the NBA all day. It’s a great day for NBA basketball and to play on it is going to be awesome. I’m going to watch it in the future with my kids and say, 'Look, Daddy played on NBA Christmas in Madison Square Garden.'"

Damian Lillard: "I think just growing up watching the Christmas games. It’s a special day, it’s a special opportunity to be able to do that. I wish they still did the Christmas uniforms and had a whole thing around Christmas. But just being able to do it, I ‘m sure everybody loves the fact they can play on Christmas. It’s a prime-time game. Even when it’s a team with a bad record, or a team that’s not considered a high-level team, those games still have the energy of a real game. We get to participate. It’s been awhile, I think it’s been four years since I last played on Christmas. And it was the last game of the night, it was in Utah. It was just... I think this is the real Christmas experience, primetime in Madison Square Garden, so I’m looking forward to it."

Portis: "We still get an opportunity to play on Christmas, which is great, being one of 10 teams that was selected. One of the things you can’t really take for granted, You grow up watching the greats play on Christmas every year and you open your presents and you put the game on at 12 (Noon) and you watch the Bucks this year. You feel me? Me growing up, you turn the game on at 12 I would watch Kobe (Bryant) or I would watch ‘KG’ (Kevin Garnett) or whatever it is. So being able to – not saying I’m in their shoes – but kind of in their shoes because we’re playing on Christmas. It’s a great feeling. It’s something that you just have to cherish to the utmost."

Who has played on Christmas Day in the NBA?

Here is a list of Bucks players who have been on teams that played on the holiday:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-23)

• Malik Beasley (2019, 2023)

• MarJon Beauchamp (2022-23)

• Pat Connaughton (2018-23)

• Jae Crowder (2016-18, 2021)

• AJ Green (2022-23)

• Damian Lillard (2018)

• Brook Lopez (2012-13, 2017-23)

• Robin Lopez (2009, 2016, 2019, 2023)

• Khris Middleton (2018-23)

• Cameron Payne (2015-16, 2021-23)

• Bobby Portis (2015-16, 2018-23)

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How will the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate Christmas in New York?