This is a growing trend now. We’ve seen it in football and now it’s come to the NBA: alternate broadcasts with cartoon characters playing the sports we love.
Who are these for? Children? Or do they simply exist for adults to make fun of?
It’s unclear, but sports leagues and media companies who have more money than they know what to do with keep signing off on them. We’ve seen the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars face off as characters from Toy Story. We’ve endured the NHL’s real-time 3D animation. We’ve been given NFL games on Nickelodeon that emphasize slime. We’ve even watched Homer Simpson throw a touchdown for the Dallas Cowboys.
The NBA and Disney leaned into this puzzling yet growing trend on Christmas, providing an alternate broadcast for games on Disney+ that featured – you guessed it – Disney cartoon characters. Mickey swished 3-pointers, Goofy dunked, Donald played superb defense.
It was all very silly, and NBA fans predictably had so many jokes on social media.
I need one of the serious NBA X’s and O’s accounts to do a full film breakdown of this Knicks-Spurs game, but only use the Disney altcast footage with like Goofy and Donald Duck running around.
— Tom Thibadome, Owner of the Thibsdale Thibadome (@Thibadome) December 25, 2024
Idk why people are shocked by this
Donald Duck is an all nba level defender https://t.co/5vGuXTVqMj
— Triple Threat Talk (@talkintriple) December 25, 2024
Disney #NBAXmas feed on ESPN2 electric as anticipated.
Mickey Mouse and Wemby in the pick and roll is just what I needed this morning.
— Wade Neely (@WadeNeely) December 25, 2024
This feels like a broken Wii U NBA game with Disney characters. #NBA #NBAXmas #NBAChristmasDay pic.twitter.com/UhLAtYlat5
— Dana Abercrombie (@sagesurge) December 25, 2024
“#Goofy has great court awareness.” Great line from @McNuttMonica as part of #dunkthehalls alternate broadcast @Disney. #spurs #Knicks #NBAXmas #nba pic.twitter.com/QkPYZHgZuW
— Joe Favorito (@joefav) December 25, 2024
The NBA chose to invest in a simulcast of the games with Disney characters instead https://t.co/Ae87RNmikt
— Sham (@shamshammgod) December 25, 2024
Disney NBA Christmas broadcast Adam Silver is haunting pic.twitter.com/b1Nd2ul20s
— 🦌 (snellszn.bsky.social) (@SnellSZN) December 25, 2024
Disney broadcast is so dated. Mickey Mouse just told everyone that the power forward usually focuses on interior scoring and stays closer to the basket.
Mickey wake up it’s not 2010 anymore.
— will (@will_nets_hater) December 25, 2024
