Load management is a topic of constant debate among basketball fans. Some believe it's essential for keeping star players fresh for the postseason. In contrast, others argue that skipping games disrupts individual and team rhythm. Hall of Famer Chris Mullin is firmly in the latter camp.
Sitting down with Ma$e and Cam'ron on 'It Is What It Is ,' the Golden State Warriors legend set the record straight about his thoughts on load management.
"I do think that load management is overused. Again, when you're injured, you sit; if you're chipped up, you play," Mullin said . "If you don't train your body to play 82 (games), that's how you do get hurt. Why not train like you're going to, and if you have to miss games, miss some. But if you map them out ahead of time, I don't think it's right."
The lefty sharpshooter is an old-school, grind-it-out guy, and that's his philosophy. However, he was right on many levels. Playing injured apparently hurts your career in the long term, but planning to sit out games ahead of time is counterproductive.
The Numbers
History does not agree with the load management concept. For instance, Karl Malone only missed 10 games in his first 17 seasons and was the most well-conditioned athlete of his time.
Fellow Jazz legend John Stockton missed only four outings in his first 13 seasons until a knee injury forced him to sit out the first 18 games of the 1997-98 season. After that, the all-time steals and assists leaders never missed a single night until he retired in 2003.
Here are more numbers: Michael Jordan only missed four regular season games in six championship seasons, Larry Bird three (in three titles), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 13 (in six championship seasons), and Magic Johnson 26 games (in five).
Bill Russell won 11 rings but never missed more than 13 games in a season except his rookie year. In contrast, Joel Embiid missed at least 21 games in three of the past five seasons. Clearly, resting and sitting games out does not equate to winning. If anything, it could make the team lose its edge.
No back-to-backs for JoJo
The panel initially discussed Embiid's health issues and how the Sixers plan to manage them. The 2023 MVP then stated he might never play on a back-to-back again. Philly's front office obviously supported this method, but as Mullin said, that plan of action may ultimately backfire.
"I just think that there is a part of team building that's getting skipped over. There is something about the chemistry of going through practices, and I think they miss that," the two-time Olympic gold medalist opined .
Based on who he talked with as an NBC analyst for Golden State, some players claimed they needed to find rhythm in Game 60 of the season or complained about not knowing their roles. For Mullin, a massive part of these issues were caused by missing practices due to load management.
Related: "If we would have had the first pick, we would have taken Hakeem" - Ex-Bulls assistant admits they would have passed on Michael Jordan
"Train harder than they have to perform"
Practices are the foundation of success for every team. This is where habits are formed and refined, where players develop chemistry, and coaches install strategies. It's the place where hard work and discipline turn talent into execution and lay the groundwork for game-time success. That's why if players miss these sessions because of load management, they'll probably be steps behind the ones who don't.
" To be a great anything, whether a musician, ballet dancer, rock musician, it's the proper routine then the proper repetition, " Mullin said. " Then it becomes muscle memory. But you can't substitute the first two. You can't press a button to get the repetition and the routine. "
Load management will continue to be a thing now, and NBA teams will lean toward it more than ever. However, Mullin's point is clear: The grind might just be the best load management plan there is.
Related: Chris Mullin thinks there is bad blood between Donte DiVincenzo and the Knicks: "He got surprised by that deal"
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