ESPN and Disney are partnering again to produce an animated alternative broadcast for the New York Knicks versus Cleveland Cavaliers matchup on Christmas Day. Titled 'Dunk the Halls,' the special will feature Disney characters representing players in a setting at Magic Kingdom Park. This marks the second consecutive year for the innovative format.
ESPN and Disney's collaboration brings back 'Dunk the Halls' for the NBA's Christmas Day slate on December 25, 2025, focusing on the game between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Debuting last season during a San Antonio Spurs-Knicks contest, the alt-cast transforms the action into an animated spectacle using Sony and Hawk-Eye Innovations technology to depict players as Disney characters.
This year's broadcast introduces Stitch alongside staples like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald Duck. Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell will appear as Disney figures navigating the court within the virtual Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. The production airs on ESPN2 and Disney Channel, with availability on ESPN and Disney's streaming platforms.
Drew Carter and Monica McNutt return as the broadcast team, joined by Daisy Duck as sideline reporter. The initiative continues ESPN's trend of creative alt-casts, following a Monsters Inc.-themed NFL game on December 8 and a 2021 Marvel partnership for an NBA regular-season telecast. Other networks, like CBS with Nickelodeon, have similarly experimented, including an animated Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024.
ESPN's ManningCast remains a benchmark for alternative viewing, featuring Peyton and Eli Manning's analysis with celebrity guests on NFL games since 2021. These formats aim to engage diverse audiences for major sporting events, blending entertainment with live action.
