Basketball in the 1990’s was ruled by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, capturing six NBA Finals titles with two three-peats in the Windy City. And it felt like those Bulls’ games were always much-watch TV, because of Jordan.
Jordan has expressed his thoughts on how he wanted to play every night and show up for the people that paid money to see him in the past. But now, he’s taking aim at this era of basketball and the key words “load management.”
Michael Jordan calls out this era of NBA players for load management
Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
It’s no secret that load management in the NBA has become a hot topic these days. Players are sitting out and hoping for rest to gear up for the playoffs, which has drawn a bit of a sour taste for fans. That includes Jordan, who based load management on Tuesday night.
During his weekly segment “MJ: Insights to Excellence” on Tuesday night, they asked Jordan about load management.
He offered up this answer, as expected.
“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. 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.”
He went on to say that it included road games as well, even fans who rooted against him.
“Yeah, because I know he’s probably yelling at me and I want to shut him up,” Jordan said. “You know, he’s calling me all kinds of names. I definitely want to shut him up. … You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want to show. Right?”
Michael Jordan: “That’s your job”
Suns guard Dan Majerle defends Bulls guard Michael Jordan during Game 1 of the NBA Finals in 1993 in Phoenix.
Now, Jordan didn’t play in every single game of his career. But he did play a full 82-game regular season nine times and played in at least 80 games two other times.
He did his part to keep the product entertaining and available to watch. He continued on, saying that’s the jobs of players.
“You play basketball two-and-a-half, three hours a day,” Jordan continued. “That’s your job. That’s what you get paid to do as an NBA player. What are you doing the other 21 hours? To me, that’s when you should be preparing for your next day of work, or your next challenge.”
Let’s now see how the rest of the NBA responds to the GOAT.
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