Members of Chelsea's first team have posed for a series of photos to help promote the NBA's festive schedule.

Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard, Petr Cech and Jon Obi Mikel have all posed in jerseys of the teams that are due to play games on Christmas Day.

"Playing over Christmas, you do what the people enjoy and football is played for the people and the tradition in England is to enjoy the Christmas period with football, just like basketball in the US," the Daily Mail quotes the goalkeeper as saying.

"Everyone goes as a family to the stadium and that is the way it is, we professionals are on the other side, but the overall excitement and the atmosphere of everybody coming to the game in a positive mood, and happy, you enjoy being part of it."

Mikel added: "I haven't played [basketball] against anyone here at Chelsea but I think I'm the best! One on one I think I could beat anyone, for sure."

Five games are scheduled to take place in the NBA tomorrow.