Giannis Antetokounmpo can't believe he has Christmas off

Since Giannis Antetokounmpo became a perennial MVP candidate – and the Milwaukee Bucks became a contender in the East in turn – they have been heavily featured on national television and on the league's biggest game days. There is no day on the NBA calendar more important than Christmas, although they now have competition from the NFL, and Giannis and the Bucks have been a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule, playing on Christmas in each of the last six seasons.

However, that streak will end this year, as Shams Charania announced that the Bucks will not appear in the 2024 Christmas schedule after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Spurs at the Knicks
Timberwolves at Mavericks
76ers at Celtics
Lakers at Warriors
Nuggets at Suns

After this schedule was announced, Giannis found out on Friday and made his reaction public on Twitterseemingly stunned that he and the Bucks have the day off.

I can't say for sure if Giannis is mad he won't be able to attend the league's biggest games or if he's excited to finally be able to spend Christmas with his family, but either way, it was a pretty big surprise. Normally, the East only has two games on Christmas, but this year only three teams from the East are involved, as they decided to capitalize on Wemby-mania by sending the Spurs to the Garden. That would have been the situation the Bucks would have found themselves in, but now they'll be watching at home with their families. It's a nice combination of a holiday off and some extra motivation for Giannis, Damian Lillard and the rest of the Bucks, who are a forgotten contender after a summer of turnover around the league.