The NBA on MLK Day: records and information

On Monday, January 16, the NBA will maintain its lifestyle of using the game of basketball to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With various activities

[{"selector":"#anim-013997e8-f169-4503-8e77-85a008e3487a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34c7ba6b-9203-45e5-b31e-645230e33399","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}]

The NBA has played games on MLK Day every year since the holiday was first located in 1986, with the more practical exception of the 1998-99 season

[{"selector":"#anim-b93ede30-ed85-4242-bd6b-464594d00647","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d586142-5425-49f3-ba18-3a4c861299df [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

which didn't start until February 5, after the seasons ended. holidays. Overall, 358 NBA games have been played on MLK Day, with another 9 games scheduled for 2023

[{"selector":"#anim-2e52f248-c39b-40fa-9a61-611cf8e2a2a4","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-50d8a976-0d3f-4067-bedc-b681dd798a93 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Below is a list of some of the featured video games, individual performances, and statistics from MLK Day games over the duration of the NBA records.

[{"selector":"#anim-36956dae-2aa9-4efe-b2c9-081d1b713c75","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba6209b0-4040-4218-8114-55bdcfb2e9f2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Portland's Damian Lillard has the report for the most points ever scored on MLK Day as he scored sixty-one career points in the Blazers' 129-124 overtime win over the Warriors

[{"selector":"#anim-e57ffde6-f7e9-45cc-a8c0-2b5f60d8eb40","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-64959a31-21ba-41ce-b65b-6fa9d655eb06 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

While the Soldiers hold the mark for the most points scored by any team on MLK Day, the Los Angeles Clippers were part of the top two scoring games

[{"selector":"#anim-1ac885ec-d8b8-4f84-af0a-59535cc583d8","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c242811-8010-4edf-b01d-194feabc3227 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

The NBA has played on MLK Day in 36 of the 37 years since the ride was first located in 1986 (missing only the 1998-99 season),

[{"selector":"#anim-7d68e209-1661-46f4-bf2e-157bebdeae3e","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-610c3266-8cdb-4c79-825e-044bd2cb991c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.249999904429615%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Cities with considerable significance in King's legacy are Atlanta (31 games) and Memphis (20 games), as they mark King's birthplace (Atlanta)

[{"selector":"#anim-5323d7f5-4a44-4227-b676-975245ebbcab","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-b72b6180-feaf-47d4-bc7d-d9704e76b1c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}]

Need More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-9d410c1b-174b-430d-abe1-1ac64636be3f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0606157b-ce98-4645-bfa8-3f8b23298db8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] Learn more