Olden Polynice stunned listeners of The Odd Couple podcast when he revealed his top five NBA players of all time and boldly included Utah Jazz legend John Stockton among the elite. While many fans and analysts today prioritize flashy dunks, viral highlights, and cultural influence, Polynice doubled down on a different approach: longevity, records, and irrefutable statistical dominance.
“It’s Magic and Bird, they go hand in hand. So for me, I’ve got Stockton in my top five, because I know what my criteria are. I’ve got Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar too.”
Polynice, never one to go with the grain, didn’t include LeBron James or Michael Jordan in his top five, not because he doubts their greatness, but because his definition of greatness doesn’t start and end with hype or championships.
“I use facts, not fiction. Stockton holds two records that will never be broken. People who do things like that have to be revered. Come on, man. You’ve got to look at it in its totality. You all are focused on highlights, who did what, who made the flashiest plays but that’s not the point. It’s the totality of everything.”
The two records he’s referring to? John Stockton’s all-time assists and steals marks. And Polynice is right: they may never fall. With 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals over a 19-year career, all with the Utah Jazz, Stockton’s numbers remain lightyears ahead of the next closest competitors.
To break his assists record, a current player would need to average over 10 assists per game for more than 17 seasons. As for steals? That mark is equally daunting, requiring a combination of elite defensive instinct, court time, and health that’s rarely sustained over decades.
Polynice’s admiration for Stockton comes down to two key reasons: unmatched durability and record-setting consistency. In an era where load management is the norm and careers are often shortened by wear and tear, Stockton was a model of reliability.
He missed only 22 games in his entire 19-year career, a figure nearly unheard of in today’s NBA. That consistency, playing 82 games in 16 of his 19 seasons, allowed him to build a statistical mountain that others haven’t even approached.
Polynice is no stranger to controversial takes. In the past, he has made waves by excluding LeBron and Jordan from his list of favorite players to watch. But he remains firm in his beliefs, valuing substance over sizzle and production over popularity.
In a world where John Stockton is often forgotten in “GOAT” discussions due to his quiet demeanor and zero rings, Polynice’s words serve as a powerful reminder: sometimes the greatest impact is measured not in championships or commercials, but in records so untouchable, they may outlive the league itself.
