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Michael Jordan is not a fan of players’ load managing during seasons.
For the past few years, players have sat out with minor injuries to stay fresh for later in the season and the playoffs.
On Tuesday’s NBA on NBC halftime show, Jordan was asked what he thinks about “load management” —players deliberately sitting out games when they’re not injured.
“Well it shouldn’t be needed first and foremost. You know 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 a– off to get a ticket or to give money to buy the ticket.”
“You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you, they’re going to show, right? So if the guys are coming to watch me play I don’t want to miss that opportunity. 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.”
Jordan went on to reiterate why he felt like he needed to play every day.
“You play basketball two and a half hours a day, three hours. Right? That’s your job. What do you get paid to do as an NBA player? What are doing another twenty-one hours? To me that when you should be preparing for your next day of work or next challenge.”
“I always felt like one, it was a sense of pride for the fans that are paying. Two, making sure I stay sharp. And three, as a team to always be there. It can disrupt, you know, disrupt that synergy that’s happening.”
“You play basketball for 2.5 to 3 hours a day. That’s your job. That’s what you get paid to do. What are you doing the other 21 hours?”
— Michael Jordan on load management
(via @NBAonNBC, h/t @Ballislife)pic.twitter.com/RsngA2ndpP
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 29, 2025