Printed: October 29, 2025
These days, the perfect NBA gamers rarely play 82 video games. Final season, Mikal Bridges ranked fiftieth in factors per recreation, and he’s the primary participant on that listing to play 82 video games. All 49 different scorers above him performed fewer than that. There are a myriad of causes for this, however one large one is load administration. Groups don’t need their stars taking part in each single evening to protect them for the playoffs and to forestall accidents. That doesn’t sit proper with Michael Jordan, an NBA legend who averaged nearly 72 video games performed over a 15-year profession.
Michael Jordan slams NBA stars who sit out for load administration
For what it’s price, Michael Jordan isn’t alone on this sentiment. Kobe Bryant, earlier than he handed away, talked about making an attempt to play each recreation as a result of he knew there was somebody on the market within the stands who wished to see him play. That’s primarily the identical take Jordan had on NBC not too long ago.
By way of The Athletic, Jordan stated, “It shouldn’t be wanted. I by no means wished to overlook a recreation as a result of it was a possibility to show. The followers are there to observe me play. I need to impress that man, manner up on high, who in all probability labored his ass off to get a ticket.” The NBA has additionally tried to chop down on this, implementing new damage guidelines and including a minimal variety of video games performed to qualify for any kind of NBA award. Nonetheless, gamers sit out generally. It has develop into part of the sport right this moment. It’s in all probability avoidable, particularly with Jordan’s mentality, however groups don’t function that manner anymore.
Jordan understands that accidents occur and that gamers generally want to take a seat to heal, however there’s a wonderful line. He doesn’t imagine wholesome gamers ought to ever sit even when it’s to prioritize the long-term well being of that participant. “Bodily, if I can do it and simply don’t really feel like doing it, that’s an entire completely different lens,” he stated. For probably the most half, it’s not that gamers don’t “really feel like doing it,” it’s simply that there’s a precedence on long-term well being or relaxation, particularly for veterans.
Jordan performed 78 or extra video games in his ultimate 12 seasons
As talked about, Jordan rarely missed video games. The Chicago Bulls legend performed in at the very least 78 video games in 12 of 15 seasons. A foot damage saved him from reaching that complete in his second NBA season (he performed simply 18 video games), and a return from his first retirement in 1995 saved him to only 17 video games, and knee surgical procedure in 2001-02 (60 video games) saved him out.
That is, sadly, the fashionable NBA. How vital is it to ensure Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo hit 82 video games in comparison with damage dangers? Taking part in extra video games provides to the stress degree on a participant’s physique, and that may and does result in accidents. That is very true for gamers like LaMelo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving, who’ve struggled with well being a ton all through their NBA careers. Is one recreation price it? NBA groups don’t assume so, however Michael Jordan disagrees.
This isn’t going away, both. Even with the brand new guidelines and conditions for All-NBA and different awards, gamers and groups nonetheless discover methods to prioritize freshness and well being over sending them out each single evening. Additionally it is a little bit little bit of an overblown challenge, as most stars aren’t sitting out routinely. They nonetheless play loads of video games; they simply miss just a few right here and there, however the general tally continues to be very excessive. Nonetheless, each time a star participant sits out and not using a substantial damage, this dialog rears its ugly head once more. And that’s not going to alter regardless of who the participant is.
