It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the Grand Rapids Gold, the NBA G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, made sure to celebrate in style.
The team hosted an Elf-themed holiday night inspired by the beloved Christmas movie, complete with custom jerseys paying homage to Buddy the Elf. The whimsical uniforms featured bright green designs with candy cane accents, making the Gold players look like they had just stepped off the screen of the holiday classic.
Bringing Buddy to the Court
Gold forward Gabe McGlothan fully embraced the theme, walking through the tunnel pregame in a full Buddy the Elf costume. His teammates, meanwhile, donned the eye-catching jerseys, one of the most creative alternate designs seen in the G League to date.
The jerseys weren’t the only highlight of the night, though. The team pulled out all the stops with holiday-themed in-game entertainment, giveaways, and festive music, turning the arena into a winter wonderland.
NBA Fans React
While the Elf-themed jerseys delighted fans in attendance, they also sparked a flurry of reactions online. From memes to jokes, the basketball world couldn’t resist chiming in:
- “Does Santa know about this?” one fan quipped.
- “Buddy would drop a triple-double while spreading Christmas cheer,” joked another.
- “Hope they served spaghetti with syrup at the concession stand,” a user added, referencing Buddy’s infamous meal from the movie.
G League’s Love for Themed Jerseys
The Gold’s Elf night is part of a long-standing tradition in the G League, where teams frequently roll out quirky, themed uniforms for special occasions. This week alone, several other teams debuted unique designs, but the Grand Rapids Gold might have stolen the spotlight with their festive nod to the Will Ferrell classic.
A Winning Night
The holiday cheer seemed to work in the Gold’s favor. They narrowly edged out the Indiana Mad Ants, the G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, in a hard-fought game at home. The players celebrated their victory still dressed in their Elf-themed jerseys, fully embracing the festive spirit.
Postgame, fans joked that the Gold must have channeled Buddy’s boundless energy on the court. “I hope they yelled, ‘Son of a nutcracker!’ every time they hit a three,” one fan wrote.
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A New Holiday Tradition?
With the success of Elf night, the Grand Rapids Gold may have set a new bar for holiday-themed games in the G League. Fans are already clamoring for a sequel next year, suggesting everything from a Home Alone-themed jersey to a full Polar Express experience.
Whether they stick with Buddy or try something new, one thing’s for sure: the Gold proved that holiday spirit and basketball are a winning combination.
