When it comes to load management in the contemporary NBA, Michael Jordan isn’t very impressed.
Jordan, the 14-time All-Star and six-time NBA champion many consider to be the greatest player to ever set foot on the court, was also one of the more consistently available players in history.
Throughout his 15-year career, Jordan played in all 82 regular season games nine times. He played in at least 80 two more times.
During a new NBA on NBC segment called ‘MJ: Insights to Excellence,’ in which Jordan, 62, is asked about some of the larger issues facing the league, he blasted the concept of load management, which is when veteran players use intentional rest days to recover and heal the body.
‘Well, it shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,’ Jordan said. ‘I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that I felt like – the fans are there to watch me play – I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his ass off to get a ticket.’
To deliver his point, Jordan brought up a talking point he had used during his playing days, understanding that fans in attendance at arenas all over the country had made a sacrifice to spend the money to go watch him play – even in opposing markets.
‘Yeah, cause I know he’s probably yelling at me and I wanted to shut him up,’ Jordan said when asked if he was also thinking about the opponent fan. ‘He’s calling me all kinds of names. I definitely wanted to shut him up. You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want to show.
‘If guys are coming to watch me play, I don’t want to miss that opportunity. Now, physically, if I can’t do it, then I can’t do it. But physically, if I can do it, and I just don’t feel like doing it, that’s a whole different lens.’
The NBA tightened player participation policies ahead of the 2023-24 season that not only limited when teams would be able rest star players, but also punish them for resting star players during nationally televised games. The NBA also implemented a 65-game threshold for a player to be eligible for postseason awards.
Jordan recalled a sprained ankle he suffered early in his career, when a teammate suggested he sit and rest up on the bench.
‘I said, ‘No, man, I need to make a name for myself, there’s no way I can sit,’ ‘ Jordan recalled. ‘I need to show what I’m capable of. I want to play. I want to win. I want to make an impact. I twisted my ankle, I taped it up and I went back out and played. I always felt that necessary need that I could never leave my comrades out if could perform.’
Jordan also recalled the infamous ‘flu game’ during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals when he gutted through food poisoning to score 38 points, haul in 7 rebounds and dish out 5 assists.
Still, Jordan’s view might be considered a little outdated, as teams devote more resources to rest and recovery to limit injuries and maximize a player’s production. In the contemporary NBA, the typical player also spends several hours getting treatment, studying film and going through practice sessions, which can also generate wear and tear on the body.
‘You play basketball two-and-a-half, three hours a day,’ Jordan continued. ‘That’s your job. That’s what you get paid to do as an NBA player. What are you doing the other 21 hours? To me, that’s when you should be preparing for your next day of work, or your next challenge.’