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[Saba Sports News] NBA legend Magic Johnson recently opened up about Michael Jordan’s no-nonsense stance on load management in today’s game. Speaking on *Byron Scott’s Fast Break* podcast, Johnson revealed that Jordan is baffled by the trend of players routinely sitting out games.
“I was with Michael Jordan and he says, ‘Earvin, I don’t know why these guys [sit out],’” Johnson recalled. “If you look at his record, he played in almost every game five or six times throughout his career. He didn’t miss games. We *wanted* to play in every game.”
Johnson used the moment to reflect on the mentality of his own era, where players had to be physically held back to avoid taking the floor when injured.
“Pat Riley or our trainer, Gary Vitti, would say, ‘No, no, no—don’t put on your uniform, don’t come sit on that bench,’” Johnson said. “Because you wanted to play. You wanted to be there for your guys. One time, they even made me wear a T-shirt so I wouldn’t try to check in.”
Scott, Johnson’s former Lakers teammate, chimed in with a humorous story that underlined just how competitive Johnson was, even when sidelined.
“He wouldn’t let him put his uniform on because he knew Magic would rip it off and run into the game,” Scott laughed. “So we gave him sweats and no trunks—just to be safe.”
Johnson admitted that it was hard to sit out when he felt his team needed him.
“If I thought we were going to lose, shoot, I’m getting in there,” he said.
Beyond the personal anecdotes, Johnson also expressed concern about the current state of the NBA, particularly how load management affects fans and the overall quality of games.
“It’s different now, and fans are reacting to load management,” he said. “They don’t get to see their stars. I tuned in a couple of weeks ago—both teams had their stars out. The game was ragged. They’ve got to do something about this.”
Load management has been a hot topic in recent years, prompting the NBA to introduce a player participation policy for the 2023-24 season. The rule requires star players to be available for nationally televised games and in-season tournament matchups, barring legitimate injuries or exceptions.
As the league continues to grapple with player availability, Johnson’s comments spotlight a generational divide: legends like him and Jordan emphasize playing every night, while today’s players and teams weigh long-term health and playoff readiness.