Disney, ESPN and the NBA are teaming up once again to present Dunk the Halls, the third real-time, animated NBA game using Sony’s Beyond Sports data visualization technology, on Christmas Day at noon ET, when the New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals. The innovative alternate presentation will be available on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel and the ESPN App.
The Setting
The virtual, live re-creation of the Spurs vs. Knicks game will once again unfold on “Main Street, U.S.A.” in Magic Kingdom® Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale and Stitch will return, joined for the first time by Angel, Stitch’s intergalactic bestie from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch: The Series, who makes her Dunk the Halls debut.
Shots of “Main Street, U.S.A.” and iconic landmarks like Cinderella Castle will appear throughout, transformed with festive décor, snowfall and other Disney-inspired surprises.
The Story
Mickey’s Christmas wish to Santa Claus once again brings the NBA to Magic Kingdom® for a magical, animated matchup. This year, Angel, also known as Experiment 624, joins Stitch and the rest of the Disney crew for the Christmas Day celebration, bringing even more out-of-this-world fun to the latest Dunk the Halls adventure.
What’s New This Year
- Angel makes her first-ever Dunk the Halls appearance and headlines Angel’s Halftime Video Dance Party.
- Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Angel and Stitch will take part in the game.
- New “Main Street Memories” will revisit the dunk contest from the original Dunk the Halls and last year’s Christmas Parade.
- New Hidden Mickeys, visual gags and Christmas memories from NBA stars will appear throughout the presentation.
The Technology
Each player will appear as a motion-tracked animated version of themselves, captured live through Sony’s Beyond Sports real-time visualization technology. Its advanced player modelling translates the live action into natural, authentic character movement within the animated world. Optical tracking data is provided by Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations. Viewers will see every dunk, layup and pass from the actual game at Madison Square Garden as it happens.
Production Highlights
- Angel’s Halftime Video Dance Party will feature a large video screen in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., with Disney characters and dancing gingerbread people joining the fun.
- Santa’s elves will return as camera operators, with Santa operating ESPN’s “SkyCam.”
- Disney friends will deliver locker room speeches and decorate a massive Christmas tree during the broadcast.
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver returns to Dunk the Halls to make a special appearance.
- Fans can look forward to Disney and NBA trivia, sideline antics from the Disney crew and finding out how many churros Goofy can eat this year.
Commentators
Drew Carter, Monica McNutt andDaisy Duck will reprise their roles from last year’s Dunk the Halls presentation. Carter will once again serve as play-by-play commentator alongside ESPN basketball analyst McNutt, while Daisy Duck returns as sideline reporter.
Carter and McNutt will again be animated in the style of the telecast and don ESPN Edge Innovation Partner Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from “Main Street, U.S.A.” through VR technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports Virtual Commentator Technology.
The traditional Spurs vs. Knicks telecast on ABC and ESPN will feature Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler on commentary with Lisa Salters reporting from courtside.
Dunk the Halls continues ESPN and the NBA’s well-documented history of innovation, including alternate presentations that utilize the unmatched depth and scope of The Walt Disney Company. In 2021, ESPN and the NBA teamed up with Marvel for “Marvel’s Arena of Heroes,” an alternate presentation of an NBA regular-season game.
ESPN also continues to expand its real-time animation efforts across sports, including the recent announcement of Star Wars Funday Football, a real-time, animated alternate presentation of Super Bowl LXI set in the Star Wars galaxy. The presentation will stream live on Disney+ and the ESPN App and air on Disney Channel and Disney XD on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027.
All five NBA Christmas Day presented by State Farm games on December 25 will air on both ESPN and ABC. The action begins at noon ET when the San Antonio Spurs and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama visit the defending NBA Champion New York Knicks and Finals MVP Jalen Brunson in an NBA Finals rematch, which will also stream live on Disney+. For the full Christmas Day lineup, visit ESPN and ABC’s 2026-27 NBA regular-season broadcast schedule.
All of ESPN. All in One Place.
ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited plan, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able shortform vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package from certain providers. Bundling options available for fans include a Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN offering that provides a one-of-a-kind streaming package combining sports with branded and general entertainment. For more, visit stream.espn.com.
About Disney+
Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and outside the U.S., general entertainment brand Hulu. As the flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ serves as a connection point for audiences around the world with an unmatched collection of award-winning general entertainment, gold-standard family programming, the most trusted news, and global sports programming from ESPN. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, it is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings in the U.S. whereby bundle subscribers can now stream Hulu and ESPN content directly in the Disney+ app. Subscriptions also include access to the Disney+ Perks loyalty program including special discounts, everyday savings, and early access to exclusive experiences that only Disney can offer. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2026-27 season featured 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries across six continents. The NBA’s digital assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.5 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. The NBA’s Tap to Watch provides seamless access to local, national and global live game telecasts via the NBA App, NBA.com, third-party digital platforms and NBA partner platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social impact platform, drives change on issues facing fans and communities in the areas of health and wellness, civic engagement, social justice and inclusion, and sustainability.
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