NBA’s Christmas Game Gets Animated With Mickey and Minnie for ‘Dunk the Halls’

variety.com:

Andrés Buenahora The NBA is getting animated on Christmas. “NBA on ESPN‘s” “Dunk the Halls” will feature a live recreation of the Christmas matchup between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs in the league’s inaugural animated game.

It will air at noon E.T. and will be available on Disney+, ESPN+ and ESPN2. A Thursday press conference showcased a sneak preview of “Dunk the Halls,” in which an animated Santa Claus grants Mickey Mouse his wish for he and his friends to play in a basketball game. “Dunk the Halls” features animated versions of players from both the Knicks and Spurs, such as New York’s All-Star Jalen Brunson as well as San Antonio’s Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.

ESPN play-by-play announcer Drew Carter serves as the primary broadcaster for “Dunk the Halls,” alongside ESPN Analyst Monica McNutt and Daisy Duck, who will be a sideline reporter for the game. “It’s a great opportunity to introduce really interesting characters to an audience that may have never seen them before,” Carter told Variety. “Victor Wembanyama — seeing him in person is insane.

It’s like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character.” The broadcaster explained how the main character of the special can fluctuate depending on each viewer’s perspective.