NBA analysts Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins blast NFL for taking over Christmas Day schedule: 'Y'all can have Thanksgiving'

"No other country watches football," Jefferson said on the broadcast. "People all around the world watch our sport. Y'all can have Thanksgiving. We'll take Christmas."

The NBA has built an international audience that spans Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. Football remains largely limited to the United States, despite the NFL's efforts to expand abroad with games in London and Germany.

Perkins took a harsher stance. "They tried to be petty," he said. "Do you see the slate of games they have? That s--t is ugly."

Basketball analysts question quality of NFL's Christmas lineup choices

The criticism wasn't just about territory. Both analysts took issue with the actual matchups the NFL put together. The Cowboys entered their game against Washington with a 6-8-1 record. The Commanders sat at 4-11. Both teams were already eliminated from playoff contention. 

The NFC North showdown between the Lions and Vikings had some intrigue. Despite Minnesota already being eliminated from the postseason, the team had a chance to prevent its division rival from making the playoffs. Only Denver, at 12-3, looked like a quality team heading into Christmas, but the Broncos were fighting for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

The NBA countered with five games featuring LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and other global stars. Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg represented the next generation.

The league stacked its lineup with talent that draws viewers from different continents and time zones.

Jefferson's comment about Thanksgiving made clear where he thinks the boundary should exist. The NFL has dominated that holiday for decades with the Lions and Cowboys hosting games every year.

The NBA first played on Christmas in 1947, just a year after the league was formed. The holiday became part of basketball's identity. The NFL didn't start playing regular games on Christmas until 2020.

Whether the NFL will back off remains to be seen. Netflix and Prime Video paid significant money for Christmas streaming rights, and the games drew massive viewership last year.