Michael Jordan’s latest NBC segment Tuesday night touched on a topic of consternation for many NBA fans, media and even league officials: load management.
Jordan is part of NBC’s return to NBA coverage, starring in a pre-taped segment “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” which airs during the network’s Tuesday doubleheaders.
In last night’s installment, host Mike Tirico asked the six-time NBA champion for his feelings on load management, the practice of players sitting out games to rest their bodies during the course of the season.
“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.”
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
Jordan went on to recount an instance early in his career where he played through a sprained ankle because he didn’t want to miss time.
Of course, he also talked about his iconic “Flu Game” during the 1997 NBA Finals, when the Chicago Bulls legend played through what he believes is a case of food poisoning to lead his team to a critical Game 5 win.
“I was going to find a way to get out there, even if I was a decoy,” Jordan said. “Well, once I got out there, you never know how — pushing yourself — you never know what happens, right? … Next thing you know, the emotions, the situation, the need of the team. All those things catapulted me to, ‘I’m going to gut this thing out.'”
Analyzing Air Jordan’s comments
First and foremost, Jordan’s “Flu Game” performance, while remarkable, took place under a slightly different set of circumstances than today’s typical load management. We find it hard to believe any current superstar wouldn’t try to play in that scenario nowadays, no matter how horrible they felt.
However, delving deeper into Jordan’s career, while he did miss four full seasons and parts of a fifth during two different retirement stints, when he was an active player, His Airness rarely sat out unless injured.
Jordan missed 64 games in 1985-86 with a broken foot and 22 during the 2001-02 campaign due to a right knee issue. In his 12 remaining seasons, he played all 82 contests nine times and sat out only seven total games.
In short, it’s not like Jordan is exaggerating his durability for the camera. He really was out there every night.
Of course, the style of play in today’s NBA is different from Jordan’s era, with players having to cover more ground due to the “pace and space” nature of the sport.
Still, there’s no denying load management is an issue the NBA has been concerned about for some time. Commissioner Adam Silver has addressed it multiple times in recent years, knowing that an NBA where stars spend too much time in street clothes isn’t good for the league’s bottom line.
