In addition to the scoring outbursts of Bernard King (60), Will Chamberlain (59) and Rick Barry (50), each of whom tallied 50 points or more, there were 16 other National Basketball Association (NBA) performances from Christmases past where one player collected at least 40 points.

The latest came in 2009 when Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy chalked up 41 points in a 107-96 home victory over the Denver Nuggets. Roy was explosive offensively that Christmas Day despite wearing a thin brace to protect his sore left shoulder.

Jerry West, whose silhouette is embodied in the NBA logo, was just three points short of reaching the 50-point plateau when he poured in 47 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a December 25, 1963 game against the New York Knicks.

Three other players scored 45 points on Christmas Day.

The late Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia (now Golden State) Warriors accomplished the feat against the Syracuse Nationals in 1959.

Two years late (1961), Tom Heinsohn of the Boston Celtics duplicated the act against the same Nationals.

In 1987, Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks also made 45 scores versus the Philadelphia 76ers.

The rest of the 40 points-or-more performances on December 25 were registered by the following:

43 - Don Ohl, Washington Bullets (now Wizards) vs. Detroit Pistons, 1966;

42 - Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks, 1992; Bob Love, Chicago Bulls vs. Baltimore Bullets, 1970; Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat, 2004 (one overtime);

41 - Billy Cunningham, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Baltimore Bullets, 1969;

40 - Elgin Baylor , LA Lakers vs. Cincinnati Royals (the predecessors of the Sacramento Kings, 1961; Walt Bellamy, Atlanta Hawks vs. Buffalo Braves (now the LA Clippers), 1971; Bob Boozer - Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks, 1966; Richie Guerin, New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia Warriors, 1961; Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals vs. LA Lakers, 1961; and Jerry West, LA Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons, 1965.

The New York Knicks own the most number of Christmas Day games in NBA history with 46, including this year's encounter with the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden.

While an NBA game on Christmas Day has been a treat to American hoop fans over the years, some players and coaches do not relish having to work on this traditional holiday.

A year ago, Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy went public to request that the NBA not schedule any more Christmas games. "I actually feel sorry for people who have nothing to do on Christmas Day other than watch an NBA game," said Van Gundy. "I think we get a little carried away with ourselves with sports thinking we're more important than everything else. Christmas to me, obviously basketball is very important to me, but there are some days of the year where it's got to take a back seat to something.

For this statement, Van Gundy was fined heavily by NBA officials.

Coincidentally, the Magic played games on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day last season.

Boston Celtics bench boss Doc Rivers echoed Van Gundy's sentiments, saying that it's tough for players to be away from family. Rivers, though, realizes the NBA is not going to stop playing on the holidays.

Even the NBA's all-time winningest coach Phil Jackson of the LA Lakers and two-time reigning league Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Miami Heat were not happy to be working on Christmas Day this year.

The Lakers hosted the Heat at the Staples Center last Saturday.

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A bountiful harvest in the Year of the Rabbit (2011) to one and all!