Olden Polynice's LeBron take is why ex-NBA players shouldn't criticize modern talent

Since entering the NBA in 2003, LeBron James has never been a problem for the Utah Jazz, even though he's spent the last eight years in the Western Conference. Because of that, it's easy for any Jazz fan to have an unbiased opinion on James. As for Jazz alumni, it's a different story. Take Olden Polynice for example..

The Jazz alum, who played two years for the team from 1999 to 2001, had a rather odd take on James during his appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio. In summation, he believed that James has underwhelmed in the NBA, using the fact that Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double - something James never did - as proof of the "stain" on James' legacy.

That achievement on Westbrook's part is very impressive on his part, but what does that have to do with James? Why is not averaging a triple-double a demerit to someone's legacy? Only three players have done that: Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and Nikola Jokic.

By that logic, should we hold that against Michael Jordan or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Karl Malone? LeBron James is at or near the top of a lot of NBA records all-time, but one he'll never touch is assists. John Stockton holds that record and will likely never be topped by anyone, let alone James.

Should we hold it over James that he didn't top a player in assists when that player never won a championship? No, because it's insane enough that he's even up there with Stockton in the first place, proving both his talent and longevity, much like Stockton did during his playing days.

Former NBA players love criticizing today's players

This is a trend that keep happening where we see former NBA players criticize the players current playing, and yes, that includes stars once associated with the Jazz themselves. Most notably, Shaquille O'Neal has made it clear how much he does not like Rudy Gobert.

He made that clear when he went on the record claiming he believes Gobert's not a Hall of Famer last year.

It's just been a rather bizarre development to see past NBA players take this route. It's perfectly fine if Polynice thinks James has underwhelmed, but it feels like a massive reach to hold what he didn't do against him instead of holding him higher for doing what almost every single NBA player in the history of the league didn't.

Everyone's entitled to their option on certain subject matters, but at some point, it comes into question as to whether they really believe this or if they're just trying to get attention.

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