Michael Jordan Negotiated ‘Love Of The Game Clause’ In Rookie Contract So He Could Play Basketball Without Bulls’ Permission: ‘I Can Play Whenever I Want, I Don’t Have To Ask Anybody’

January 4, 2025

NBA legend Michael Jordan negotiated the “love of the game clause” in his rookie contract so he could play basketball without the Chicago Bulls‘ permission.

The standard NBA contract said that you had to get the team’s approval if you wanted to play in an exhibition game, but Jordan didn’t like that rule.

“Well, when he was a rookie, he had a clause put in his contract that was unprecedented; it’s what we call the ‘love-of-the-game’ clause,” Hall of Fame Bulls writer Sam Smith told Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. “Basically, it allowed him to play basketball whenever he wanted. The standard NBA contract said that if you wanted to play in an exhibition game or something, you had to get the team’s approval. He just wanted that clause; it was the only thing he asked for specifically – this clause that said, ‘I can play basketball whenever I want. I don’t have to ask anybody.’ And that’s truly what he was about, he was in it to play ball.”

Jordan played in all 82 games eight times during his legendary career. The Hall of Famer hated missing games and loved playing basketball.

With the Bulls, Jordan won six titles, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, 10 scoring titles, three steals titles and one Defensive Player of the Year Award. He’s arguably the greatest player in NBA history.

A 14-time All-Star, Jordan played for the Bulls twice. He averaged 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.9 blocks in 930 games.

Jordan finished his NBA career with averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in 1,072 games with the Bulls and Washington Wizards. He’s first in NBA history in points per game, fourth in steals, fifth in field goals and second in player efficiency rating.

Behind Jordan, the Bulls went undefeated in the NBA Finals and three-peated twice in the ’90s. Chicago defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics and Utah Jazz (twice) for its six championships.