Michael Jordan Criticizes NBA Load Management

Michael Jordan criticized the NBA's trend of "load management" on NBC's MJ: Insights to Excellence, speaking after the Bucks–Knicks broadcast and saying players who can play have a duty to fans who paid to see them. He said players should only miss games when physically unable and recounted playing through pain and illness — most famously his 38-point "Flu Game" in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals — as proof of that commitment. Jordan’s durability included multiple 70+‑game seasons and nine full 82‑game seasons, with only a broken foot and his retirements causing significant absences. His remarks come amid a modern shift toward scheduled rest justified by teams and science, and league measures such as a 65‑game threshold for award eligibility intended to discourage healthy absences. Jordan said he was particularly perturbed by healthy players sitting out, a stance echoed by other late greats like Kobe Bryant.