For many basketball fans, the mere sight of LeBron James continuing to dominate the NBA landscape well into his 40s remains nothing short of extraordinary.
With King James still registering All-NBA selections and ranking amongst the top 10 MVP candidates, his longevity and excellence defy conventional limits. Yet, not everyone views his journey with admiration.
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Former NBA big man Olden Polynice has taken issue with what he sees as LBJ’s unnecessary attempts to grab headlines, especially at an age and time when the four-time MVP is expected to display a more mature approach after all the experience he has collected in his life.
Polynice blasts James for intentionally showing association with the Clippers
Since the very beginning of the 2025 offseason, everyone was well aware that the Lakers’ top priority would be to sign 26-year-old Luka Doncic on a long-term deal and incorporate him as the new face of the franchise. This inevitable shift in focus would naturally open the door for LeBron to be included in the NBA trade rumor mill and to see if other teams are better suited for his talents.
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It was in this atmosphere of uncertainty that James made waves on social media by uploading pictures of himself practicing at a facility with the arch-city rivals’ Clippers logo in the background.
While the practice site was no longer under the Clippers’ ownership and was rather owned by Klutch Sports, the old team logo was not yet removed. Thus, to Polynice, the optics were intentional.
He boldly claimed that LeBron was well aware of how such images could spark media conversations about his possible departure for weeks, accusing him of orchestrating the scene merely to keep himself at the center of NBA discourse.
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“I don’t want to throw the word of the day out there, which is narcissistic, but it’s along those lines. He has to stay talked about, he has to stay in the media, that’s all it is. He knew what he was doing,” Polynice said on LeBron training at the Clippers facility during his appearance on Byron Scott’s podcast. “You’re doing what? Come on, dude, just go on a vacay? It did trip me out when you said he’s working out at the Clippers facility. I was like, ‘What?’ Because if you turn that around, I guarantee you, Kawhi Leonard couldn’t work out at the Lakers’ facility.”
James needs to stay focused
That being said, as the 21-time All-Star prepares for the 2025-26 campaign, the challenge before him is far more compelling than any offseason storyline. To silence critics like Polynice, his focus must remain firmly on the court, where his leadership, production and resilience will be tested once again as he is now expected to lead a new-look Lakers team to greater heights.
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The King is no stranger to scrutiny.
For over two decades, he has thrived under the relentless gaze of the media and dedicated naysayers, consistently turning doubt into fuel for greater accomplishments. But the bigger question is if he can tune out all this outside noise and give one final push to chasing his much-desired fifth championship ring?
The time to do so is running out, as he’ll be 41 in December.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.