Disney, ESPN, and the NBA are once again turning Christmas Day basketball into something only Disney could imagine. Dunk the Halls is back, blending real NBA action with the charm, nostalgia, and storytelling of Main Street, U.S.A. inside Magic Kingdom. Instead of listing the highlights, let’s walk through what this year’s broadcast will feel like — because this isn’t just a game… it’s an experience.
When and How to Watch
Christmas Day brings the magic to life at 12 p.m. ET. This is when the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks tip off. Fans can choose between the fully animated presentation on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and the ESPN App. Alternatively, they can select the traditional broadcast on ABC, ESPN, Disney+, and the ESPN App.
Stitch Crashes the Party
Last year’s broadcast brought Disney friends to the sidelines, but this year a new “experiment” arrives — and he’s ready to cause trouble. Stitch makes his Dunk the Halls debut, and from the moment he pops into frame, the energy shifts. He zips around Main Street, interrupts warm-ups, teases Goofy, and somehow becomes the heart of the halftime show.
That halftime moment becomes its own story. Stitch leads a Christmas parade straight down Main Street, each float themed to Disney favorites. Mickey and Minnie bring elegance. Donald and Daisy escalate the competition. Goofy and Pluto do Goofy and Pluto things, and Stitch — of course — tries to out-decorate every float in sight.
Main Street, U.S.A. Like You’ve Never Seen It
Throughout the broadcast, Main Street looks completely transformed. Garlands wrap the lampposts, snow drifts across rooftops, and Cinderella Castle glows in the distance as the sun sets behind it. Every once in a while, a little chaos splashes across the screen. There might be a choreographed Stitch surprise here, a runaway churro cart there.
And while fans enjoy the show, the real game is happening live at Madison Square Garden. Every dribble, steal, dunk, and pass is instantly translated into animation, creating the illusion that the NBA has temporarily moved into Magic Kingdom.
The Tech Making It Happen
Behind the scenes, this is a technical marvel. Sony’s Beyond Sports tools and Hawk-Eye Innovations tracking recreate every player’s movement in real time. The players appear as animated versions of themselves — expressive, stylized, and fully integrated into the world Disney built around them.
Even the broadcast booth joins in. Play-by-play voice Drew Carter and analyst Monica McNutt appear inside the animated world thanks to VR and motion-capture tools. Meanwhile, Daisy Duck continues her sideline reporting in the only place where snow, basketball, and Christmas magic all blend together.
Pushing the Limits of Disney Sports Storytelling
Dunk the Halls reflects Disney’s continued push into real-time animated sports. It joins this month’s Monsters Funday Football and upcoming animated NHL and WNBA presentations. Each event blends live performance with storytelling, creating broadcasts that feel new, surprising, and undeniably Disney.
Sam’s Disney Diary Take
This year’s edition of Dunk the Halls feels bigger, bolder, and far more playful — exactly what you want on Christmas Day. The addition of Stitch injects unpredictable fun. The expanded storytelling around Main Street turns the game into a holiday celebration. For families, basketball fans, and anyone who loves seeing Disney mix technology with imagination, this is one broadcast worth unwrapping.
More holiday updates are coming, so keep checking Sam’s Disney Diary for the latest from across Disney Parks, Disney+, and beyond.
