Jayson Tatum channels Michael Jordan with load management speech

It’s not uncommon for some NBA stars to sit out a few games in order to keep themselves fresh throughout the grind of the 82-game season. Jayson Tatum is not one of those stars.

The Boston Celtics forward has missed just 33 games throughout his entire six-year career. That’s the same number of games Kawhi Leonard — widely viewed as the face of load management — missed for the Los Angeles Clippers last season alone, if you include his three absences in the playoffs.

Tatum has yet to miss more than eight games in a single season. That number might have been fewer had head coach turned general manager Brad Stevens not been a proponent of resting Tatum against his desires.

In front of young basketball campers at his inaugural Jayson Tatum Elite Camp Tatum held last week, the 25-year-old harped on his reasoning for not taking games off.

“Man, I don’t decide ‘s–, we’re playing the Hornets tonight, Imma chill.’ I only get to go to Charlotte two times a year. Somebody paid their money to come watch me play,” said Tatum. “Not trying to be arrogant, but there’s a bunch of kids in there with my shoes and my jersey on.

“And just because we’re playing Charlotte on NBA League Pass on a Monday that ain’t nobody f—ing watching, I’m chilling tonight. That’s not what the best players do. … Ranked player or not, Big game or not big game, compete. Play basketball. Don’t take this s– for granted.”