WATCH: In shocking news to absolutely no one, Michael Jordan isn’t a fan load management

In shocking news to absolutely no one, Michael Jordan isn’t a fan of the current state of the NBA and more specifically, the idea of load management.

The basketball legend sat down with Mike Tirico for NBC, where he gave his unfiltered thoughts on the modern trend of players taking nights off.

“It shouldn’t be needed,” Jordan said. “I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove something. 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. You have a duty if they’re wanting to see you. As an entertainer, I want to show.”

Michael Jordan went on to explain that the only time he would ever sit out was if he physically couldn’t play. Our guy Allen Iverson would do the same. Practice was different, obviously, but he was out there every night as long as he could walk.

“Now physically if I can’t do it, then I can’t do it,” he said. “But physically if I can do it and I just don’t feel like doing it, that’s a whole different lens. You play basketball for two and a half to three hours a day. That’s your job. That’s what you get paid to do. What are you doing the other 21 hours? That’s when you should be preparing for your next day of work.”

Michael Jordan on NBA Load Management

Michael Jordan shares his thoughts on load management on the second installment of MJ: Insights to Excellence.

“I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove…the fans are there to watch me play." pic.twitter.com/h7g6krplDQ

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 29, 2025

Quick note on these Michael Jordan interviews.

Are we all on the same page that NBC basically recorded an hour interview with MJ and is now dishing out three minutes of i the interview every week and acting like Jordan is in studio, checking in, and involved with the entire production?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still significantly better than anything that was happening on ESPN but I would at least like to all be transparent about it.

Anyways… Michael Jordan, now 62 years old, certainly backed up that mindset during his career. He played all 82 games in a season nine different times and had two more seasons where he suited up for at least 80.

That level of durability feels foreign in today’s NBA.

The easy counterpoint is that basketball is more physically demanding now. The game is faster, players are bigger and stronger, and the court has opened up with the rise of the three-point era. I really don’t even believe that applies here.

Michael Jordan’s argument isn’t about sports science. It’s about competitiveness and respect for the fans. He viewed every game as a stage to perform, and he never wanted to let anyone down who paid to see him play.

Don’t even start. Joel Embiid’s situation is different.

The Sixers call it “injury management,” and that’s exactly what it is. Protecting a star with chronic knee issues is not the same as resting just because you feel like it.

So do yourself a favor and stay out of the comments section if you plan to bring up my guy in this conversation.

RAT POISON: Avoid DeMarcus Cousins and the false narrative brewing around Joel Embiid like the plague

Michael Jordan’s message is simple. If you can play, play. Compete. Show up for the people who show up for you.

That mentality might be rare in today’s NBA, but hey, that’s what made him Michael Jordan now isn’t it?

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