As load management remains a common place around the NBA, Hall of Famer Michael Jordan has made his stance clear: He doesn’t like it.
During the second showing of NBC’s “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” Jordan voiced that he believes that it shouldn’t exist while pointing out that players should hold the internal desire to be on the court every night.
“Well, it shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said via ESPN. “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 that watch me play. I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his [butt] off to get a ticket or to get money to buy the ticket.”
Jordan’s stance is rooted in his upbringing and personal experiences, which saw him lay everything on the line each night to showcase that he not only belongs in the NBA, but more importantly, justify to the fans that they are getting their money’s worth to see him play.
Meanwhile, the use of load management has its rationale as a way to keep players fresh throughout the regular season in preparation for the playoffs.
There is also the element that players are playing longer into their careers, and extending their peak play well into their 30s, which wasn’t much a common ground during Jordan’s era or shortly after that time frame.
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It’s the middle ground that must be found that keeps the league’s top players on the floor as much as possible while also allowing them to get rest when necessary throughout the course of a regular season.
Until a solution is found, more will hold Jordan’s point of view regarding load management in the NBA.
