Michael Jordan Slams Load Management, Defends Fans

Michael Jordan slammed modern load management, saying "I never wanted to miss a game" and citing his 1997 "flu game" as proof he'd play through pain because of a duty to fans. His remarks cut to the heart of the debate: players resting to preserve long-term health clashes with the old expectation that stars show up every night — even as an NBA report found no clear injury-reduction benefit. Merlin sees this as a clash between eras: today’s bigger, faster athletes and business-driven schedules push teams toward rest, while legends like Jordan remind the league of its contract with the crowd. The voice of Jordan matters to public opinion, but institutional incentives and player welfare trends make load management a stubborn feature, not a passing fad.