13-time champion Phil Jackson calls out NBA for playing on Easter

Key Highlights:

• Phil Jackson , the "Zen Master," publicly questioned the NBA 's decision to hold playoff games on Easter, calling it a test of faith.
• The NBA's Easter schedule, which included the Warriors vs. Rockets game, drew Jackson's rare criticism despite the league's long history of holiday games.
• Jackson's social media post sparked debate about the balance between basketball tradition and respecting sacred religious holidays.

Phil Jackson, the 13-time NBA champion coach revered for his philosophical coaching style and deep respect for mindfulness and tradition, has taken rare aim at the league, but it was not about basketball tactics or player development. Instead, the legendary coach voiced concern about the NBA’s decision to hold games on holidays that carry deep religious significance. Jackson is certainly not happy with the NBA holiday scheduling.

Phil Jackson critiques the NBA for Easter Sunday games

In what was only his second post on X since 2018, Jackson took a pointed jab at the league’s holiday scheduling. “Again the NBA tests faith by playing multiple games on Christmas and Easter…sacred days,” he wrote. The short, stark post instantly drew attention from his 724,000 followers, sparking conversation across social media and sports outlets. For someone as reserved and infrequent on social media as Jackson, the post carried undeniable weight.

Again the NBA tests faith by playing multiple games on Christmas and Easter…sacred days.

— Phil Jackson (@PhilJackson11) April 20, 2025

Jackson, who earned his “Zen Master” nickname thanks to his calm demeanor and spiritual outlook during coaching stints with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, rarely comments on league decisions since stepping away from his front-office role with the New York Knicks in 2017. But evidently, the NBA's Easter scheduling was enough to pull him back into the public conversation.

This Easter, the league scheduled four playoff games— Grizzlies vs. Thunder, Magic vs. Celtics, Heat vs. Cavaliers, and Warriors vs. Rockets. While none of the games were especially close or dramatic, Jackson’s issue wasn’t with the competition, it was with the principle. To him, Easter and Christmas are more than just dates on a calendar; they're sacred moments deserving of pause and reflection.

13-time NBA champion’s commentary isn’t without precedent. The NBA has made Christmas Day a flagship event for decades, starting in 1947 with a matchup between the Baltimore Bullets and the Chicago Stags. The tradition continued in the 2024 Lakers vs. Warriors showdown, which pulled in 8.32 million viewers— the highest of the day and a big reason the league averaged 5.25 million per game that holiday.

Still, Jackson’s post was a reminder that not everyone buys into the commercialization of holiday basketball.

To many fans, watching basketball on Easter or Christmas is a beloved tradition. But Jackson’s public stance raises questions among fans. While most fans shrugged at the post or saw it as a nostalgic throwback to simpler times, others echoed the sentiment that maybe some days should remain untouched.

Also Read: Stephen Curry led Golden States Warriors to victory over Houston Rockets in Playoff game 1

Regardless, the return of Jackson into the digital space proved that he has been following NBA schedules, possibly games of recent times.