Physically, If I Can’t Do It, I Can’t Do It

Michael Jordan has shared his thoughts on the load management issue plaguing the NBA today. Jordan has played at least 78 games in a season 12 times in his legendary career, and nine of those are full 82-game campaigns. He only had two injury-riddled seasons, while another was from his late-season return in 1995.

On the second episode of “MJ: Insights to Excellence” on NBA on NBC, host Mike Tirico asked the Chicago Bulls legend about his feelings on load management. Jordan never wanted to miss a game because the fans used their hard-earned money to see him play.

Jordan also used every away game as fuel to win because opposing fans want to see him fail and lose. But if a player can’t play because of a real injury, he doesn’t mind resting and recovering.

“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 the fans are there that 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 get money to buy the ticket.”

MJ added:

“You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want 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.”

In his 15 NBA seasons, Michael Jordan has played a full 82-game season nine times. He also played in at least 78 games 12 times, so load management wasn’t really a thing back then.

He played just 18 games in his second year because of a broken foot, while knee issues limited him to 60 games in his first season with the Washington Wizards. The other 17-game season was his unretirement late in the 1994-95 campaign.

Michael Jordan back in the NBA spotlight

After years of avoiding the spotlight to spend time with his family, Michael Jordan is back in the NBA after signing a deal with NBC. Jordan’s segments with the network are expected to air weekly, as he discusses many current issues in the league.

It will be interesting to see if he will give more insights into the game he loves that continues to evolve. Maybe he talks about the stars of today like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, among others.