$23.4-billion brand takes direct shot at NBA and Nike partnership with X-Mas throwback

Global sports brand Adidas lamented that the NBA and Nike failed to come up with special Christmas jerseys for the teams this year, unlike what it did when it was still the league's jersey provider.

The apparel and footwear maker, which reported $23.4 billion (as per Forbes) in revenues in 2024, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to share its sentiments. It shared an old tweet from 2015 unveiling that year's edition of NBA Christmas jerseys with the caption:

"The day was great but better when we had these"

The NBA moved not to renew its contract with Adidas as jersey provider after it expired following the 2016-17 season. Nike took over from there but discontinued making special jerseys for Christmas Day games for reasons still unknown.

Back in 2015, adidas released Christmas Day match-up jerseys as part of its NBA Season's Greetings Collection. The uniforms took in primary team colors and cream tones, with player names and numbers in holiday-style script and detailed with woven rows of stitching.

Adidas agrees with LeBron James' take on having no NBA Christmas games jersey

Adidas sentiments echoed that of NBA superstar LeBron James, who voiced his displeasure at not having Christmas Day jerseys like before in their game against the Golden State Warriors.

He took to X to highlight that there was something lacking in the atmosphere sans the special jerseys they got to use in the past, writing:

"Not having Xmas day unis anymore really sucks! That was a great feeling walking into the locker room and seeing those. It was really like receiving a [gift emoji]! Whomp whomp!"

While they did not have Christmas Day jerseys, James and the LA Lakers balled and edged the Warriors 115-113 on Austin Reaves' game-winning layup with a second to go.

James had a double-double of 31 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with four assists, two steals and a block in the win. Game hero Reaves, meanwhile, had a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The team, however, saw All-Star Anthony Davis go down with an ankle injury, with his status rendered as day-to-day.

The win was a bounce-back for the Lakers after they lost in their previous game. They next play on Saturday at home against the Sacramento Kings.

Other Christmas Day matches this season saw the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 117-114; Minnesota Timberwolves over the Dallas Mavericks 105-99; Philadelphia 76ers over Boston Celtics 118-114; and Phoenix Suns over the Denver Nuggets 110-100.