Ex-NBA player Charles Oakley says Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo would come off the bench in his era

With great success comes great criticism — or something like that.

Exhibit A: Former New York Knicks All-Star Charles Oakley says Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo won him over after winning his first NBA championship last year, but argued the two-time MVP is not good enough to earn a starting role in Oakley's era.

Appearing on SLAM magazine's "No Pump Fakes" podcast earlier this month, Oakley and the show's hosts discussed Antetokounmpo. "It's refreshing to see Giannis Antetokounmpo, guys that are like, 'Yo, I can't be buddy buddy.' Because he kind of brings that old-school mentality, that old-school feel back into this NBA," host Ahmad Smith said.

"He's doing his thing. I was skeptical because he couldn't make a jump shot (or) free throw. After what he did last year, he done won me over," Oakley said.

Despite the praise, however, Oakley wanted to make it clear that Antetokounmpo would have struggled in Oakley's era — because he wouldn't have been as dominant in the post. Oakley's prime was in the late 1980s and 90s.

"He wouldn't have been a force back in the day. ... He would have struggled, they would make him shoot jump shots," Oakley said. "He wouldn't be doing a euro step to the basket, somebody gonna knock his head off."

"He'd come off the bench back in the day," Oakley concluded.

"Two-time MVP coming off the bench? Giannis?" Smith asked.

Smith countered that Antetokounmpo is big enough to handle Oakley's era. "He's 6-10, 280 (pounds), he can run like a gazelle," said Smith.

"He ain't no 280, he's about 260, 250," Oakley replied. Antetokounmpo is listed at 6-11 and 242 pounds on the Bucks' official roster.

Oakley's opinion of Antetokounmpo isn't shared by all former great players. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, one of the most dominant big man ever who played in Oakley's era, has famously praised Antetokounmpo.

Oakley was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with ninth overall pick in 1985. His draft rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he played alongside Michael Jordan. In 1988, he was traded to the Knicks. He's most known for his time in New York, appearing in the 1994 NBA Finals alongside Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason and Mark Jackson.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Charles Oakley says Giannis would be a bench player in his era