MILWAUKEE – Three days after one of his top players was a healthy scratch in an effort to preserve his long-term health, Warriors coach Steve Kerr gave a measured response to Michael Jordan’s public criticism of load management. 

The two had won three titles together in Chicago during the Bulls’ dynasty of the 1990s, with Kerr famously receiving an assist from Jordan and hitting the game-winner to clinch the title in 1997. 

These days, Jordan is the subject of regular interview segments on NBC’s revived national NBA broadcasts. On Tuesday, he argued against the practice of sitting healthy players. 

“It shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said. “I never wanted to miss a game, because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that, the fans are there to watch me play. I want to impress that guy, way up on top, who probably worked his ass off to get a ticket, or get the money to buy the ticket.”

Meanwhile, Kerr has added four more championship rings to his collection as a coach, and possesses a slightly different perspective from his former teammate. 

Before his Warriors took on a shorthanded Bucks team – Giannis Antetokounmpo was a late scratch with a knee injury, not load management – Kerr still sympathized with the paying customer.

“The tricky part is obvious. We’ve had a lot of games over the years in Golden State where we’d have a really rough trip and we’d sit Steph, and I’d get an email or Raymond Ridder gets an email from a fan who says ‘I just spent $2,000 on a trip here between tickets and a plane ride and a hotel and Steph didn’t play,’” Kerr said. “We genuinely feel terrible. We want our fans to be able to enjoy watching Steph play.”

Michael Jordan holds his MVP finals trophy while Phil Jackson holds the NBA championship trophy in 1998. (Phil Velasquez, Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) 

But he also pointed to the modern game’s increased pace and the physical demands a spaced-out offensive philosophy places on players. Unlike the 1990’s, where Kerr said players rarely closed out to more than 18 feet, defenders now are expected to cover 30 feet of space.  

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“The game is much faster, and the players are faster and longer, and the games are every other day, so that has to factor in,” Kerr said. “And four of our top guys are 35 through 39.”

The Warriors have been open about their intention to manage both the minutes and games played for stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Al Horford, all aged 35 and older. 

Horford will not play any back-to-backs this season, and the other three will play anywhere from 60 to 70 games. 

Kerr played in all 82 games four consecutive times during his career, and Jordan did so in eight different seasons. Curry has played in at least 78 games six times, but under 70 games eight times. 

Kerr also emphasized the importance of the team’s medical staff. Back when Jordan and Kerr were collecting rings in the Windy City, the Bulls had just one weight coach and one trainer. Now, the Warriors have a medical staff that hits double-digits.

“They’re advising me when guys are are more vulnerable to injury, and I believe in this stuff,” Kerr said. “I believe in the science, and I believe in having players healthy for the playoffs.”

Kerr said that there is a solution to load management. 

It is something the NBA will never do. 

“We all know the what the only real answer is, and that’s to shorten the season,” Kerr said, before pausing and sarcastically adding, “Good luck.”