LeBron James has spent more than two decades setting records that once looked out of reach. Yet former NBA center Olden Polynice believes one of the game’s rare statistical feats should have belonged to James long before Russell Westbrook made it his own.
Polynice is not questioning James’ greatness. His argument is almost the opposite. He believes James had so much size and all-around ability that failing to post a full-season triple-double stands out as a strange omission from an otherwise historic career.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Polynice said James should have reached the milestone before Westbrook ever did. He pointed to James’ unusual combination of strength, skill and playmaking as the reason.
Jan 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) react during overtime against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
“I love LeBron. I really do. I think he’s one of the greatest ever. Ever,” Polynice said. “What he’s doing right now we’ve never seen before. And I won’t even get into the off the court. He’s by himself over there.”
That praise makes the criticism more striking. Polynice was not arguing that James lacked production. He was saying James had the physical profile and basketball IQ to chase rebounds and assists at a level that could have produced a triple-double average.
“I thought LeBron should have averaged a triple-double way before Russell Westbrook,” Polynice said. “That’s my personal opinion because he’s big, strong, and everything else, he’s the most talented guy that we seen in a long time. But yet, Russell Westbrook averaged the triple-double and LeBron didn’t.”
May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Westbrook turned the triple-double into a regular-season standard that few players have matched. He averaged one four times during his career, including his historic 2016-17 season with Oklahoma City when he finished at 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
James has never averaged a triple-double over a full regular season. He has still produced triple-doubles in 22 of his 23 seasons and finished the 2017-18 campaign with 18, his highest regular-season total.
The comparison becomes more interesting when viewed through James’ broader statistical profile. He ranks near the top of NBA history in points, assists and triple-doubles, showing that his production has stretched far beyond scoring.
Oct 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) and forward Anthony Davis (3) react to a technical foul called against Westbrook during a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
That does not make Polynice’s argument a fact. A triple-double average depends on role, pace, rebounding opportunities and how a player chooses to manage possessions across an entire season.
Still, Polynice believes the missing achievement says something about how much more James could have chased statistically.
“Believe it or not, this is going to be the weirdest thing ever uttered,” Polynice said. “I believe LeBron James underachieved.”
That is a remarkable conclusion for a player with James’ résumé. He has four championships, four MVP awards and four Finals MVPs, yet Polynice still sees one statistical ceiling that James never fully reached.
The missing triple-double does not change James’ place in basketball history. It does, however, explain why Polynice can praise him as one of the greatest ever while still believing there was another level hidden inside his game.
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