NBA icon Michael Jordan is back in the basketball world as a contributor for NBA on NBC coverage every Tuesday night. Mike Tirico’s interview with Jordan offered a short clip of the six-time champion’s perspective on the game he once dominated. Jordan’s main talking point this week focused on the modern NBA’s load management trend.
Many players dealing with injuries and even veterans hoping to preserve their health will sit out games to be safe. Jordan made it clear he doesn’t agree with that approach, criticizing players who choose to rest when healthy.
“Well, it shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said. “You know, I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove myself. I felt like the fans who were there to watch me play. I wanted to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his butt off to get money to buy that ticket.”
Jordan’s sentiment mirrors what many fans and retired players believe. Stars like Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid have frustrated NBA purists with load management, though their injuries are legitimate. It’s a layered debate with many sides, but few voices carry as much weight in basketball as Jordan’s.
Jordan Actually Backed Up His Claim
One reason Jordan believes his stance is justified is that he played as many games as possible and never rested without cause. The all-time great noted that he often played through injuries, referencing his iconic “flu game” performance that helped lead the Chicago Bulls to a crucial win in the 1997 NBA Finals.
“I was going to find a way to get out there, even if I was a decoy,” Jordan said. “Once I got out there, you never know pushing yourself, you never know what happens, right? Next thing you know, the emotions, the situation, the need of the team, all those things catapulted me to say, ‘I’m going to gut this thing out.’”
Jordan’s legacy remains revered decades later after building a case as the greatest of all time. LeBron James is the only player commonly mentioned in the same conversation, but Jordan’s ability to thrive through adversity and his reliability on the court solidified his place as a basketball icon.
Can Players Prove Jordan Wrong?
Jordan played every game in a season eight different times and appeared in 78 or more games in all but one season with the Bulls. Fans who paid to see Jordan live almost always got their money’s worth. He referenced that fan commitment as a motivating factor to suit up every night as a mindset that seems lost in today’s NBA.
Now, any given game can see a superstar ruled out at the last minute, diminishing the value of spending big money on a night out. Only 11 players appeared in all 82 games last season, compared to 58 back in 1990. Increasing that number would be the only true way for players to refute the perception that some take the regular season for granted.
NBA teams are also investing far more money into players today and often limit workloads to avoid injury risks before the postseason. Both the athletes and the league’s overall landscape have changed. Still, Jordan’s criticism will likely continue unless more players, like Mikal Bridges, take pride in playing all 82 games as a badge of honor.
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