Miami Heat Earn Respect From NBA Having First Christmas Day Game Since 2020

The Miami Heat are set to play the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day

The NBA Christmas Day schedule was released late Thursday night. 

The Miami Heat are set to face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. 

This is their first game on Christmas Day since 2020, when they played the New Orleans Pelicans. The Heat defeated the Pelicans 111-98.

Although they have been one of the most successful teams in the league in recent years, they have received a great lack of media attention.

Heat superstar Jimmy Butler made clear in 2022 his feelings towards the NBA. He also referenced the opportunity to play in Mexico City against the San Antonio Spurs.

"I don’t feel like the NBA rock with the Miami Heat too much any way," Butler said. "At least we get to play somewhere. We don’t got no TV games or nothing."

All-Star center Bam Adebayo also chimed in on the issue.

"You’ve got to think about: we were No. 1 in the East, and people didn’t even pay us any mind," Adebayo said. "Us being where we’re at, they’re definitely not talking about us. The biggest thing for us is to keep stacking these wins."

After reaching the Finals for the second time in four seasons, it appears the NBA is finally giving them respect. Although the full schedule has not yet been released, we should expect Miami to be in the upper echelon of nationally televised games.

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Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at anthonypasciolla36@gmail.com or follow him on Tik Tok @anthonysports_