Michael Jordan's Wild 'Love of the Game' Clause

Michael Jordan revealed he had a "Love of the Game" clause letting him jump into a pickup mid-drive and keep his guaranteed contract if he got hurt — "If I was driving with you down the street and I see a basketball game on the side of the road, I can go play..." That bit of paper mattered: it codified his compulsive need to play and helps explain why teams today tighten offseason activity after injuries like Chet Holmgren’s. Merlin sees the clause as pure Jordan — insurance for joy and competition that married freedom with accountability. The results were uncanny (31.5 PPG, five MVPs, six rings). Today’s stars trade that spontaneity for trainers, cautious clubs and insurance; the romance of summer pickups now lives mostly in memory.