The all-time NBA Christmas Day scorers: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and more

Playing on Christmas Day has been an NBA tradition as long as the league has been around, with the first Christmas Day game taking place in 1947 when the New York Knicks defeated Providence Steamrollers in Madison Square Garden.

Since then, the NBA has had games on Christmas in every single non-lockout year.

Naturally, the league has always tried to put their biggest brands and superstars on their Christmas Day slate of games, and as such, the scoring leaders for games that have taken place on the holiday is littered with some of the biggest names basketball has ever seen, led by LeBron James at No. 1.

Below, check out the highest Christmas Day scorers in NBA history, including Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.

LeBron James

Kobe Bryant

Oscar Robertson

Dwyane Wade

Kevin Durant

Shaquille O'Neal

Russell Westbrook

James Harden

Dolph Schayes

Walt Bellamy

Richie Guerin

Dick Van Arsdale

Bob Cousy

Walt Frazier

Earl Monroe

Carmelo Anthony

Jerry West

Hal Greer

Wilt Chamberlain

Bill Sharman

Dick Barnett

Willis Reed

Wayne Embry

Points: 174 in 10 games (17.4 ppg on 51.5 FG%)
Highest-scoring game: 35 vs. Los Angeles Lakers in 1961

Jack Twyman

Michael Jordan

Story originally appeared on HoopsHype