Report: NBA Finals rematch set for Christmas Day

One of the Christmas gifts that NBA fans receive on Dec. 25 won't be a surprise.

The marquee day on the NBA's annual schedule will include an NBA Finals rematch, ESPN's Marc Stein reports. The defending champion Golden State Warriors are tentatively set to host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, likely in a prime time slot on the back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back slate of games.

A championship rematch hasn't necessarily been rumored, but it was long believed to be a strong possibility given the star power involved and how incredible the 2015 finals turned out. The Warriors beat a short-handed Cavs squad in six games, overcoming a Herculean effort from James, and inquiring minds will surely be curious as to how a healthy Cleveland team may far.

The teams also combine to roster the reigning MVP in Steph Curry, the NBA Finals MVP in Andre Iguodala, a four-time MVP in James, a handful of max-contract players, and several international players. In other words, there is every reason to tune in, as if hardcore fans hadn't already planned to sneak away from family for 10 or 12 hours on Christmas Day.

The all-day event will reportedly tip off with the New Orleans Pelicans visiting the Miami Heat, according to earlier reports. The other three games are up in the air, but the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks are holiday fixtures. If it's assumed they'll get their usual spots, only three slots remain, with a slew of interesting matchups still possible.

The league is not expected to make anything official until the full schedule is released, likely sometime next week.