When Shaquille O’Neal, the 7’1” NBA legend who once dominated college basketball at LSU, stands next to someone and looks small, you know you’re witnessing a rare moment. That happened when Shaq met Olivier Rioux, the Florida Gators’ 7’9” freshman and the world’s tallest teenager.
The viral video of their meeting isn’t just a spectacle—it’s a glimpse into the future of college basketball and a celebration of the sport’s ever-evolving giants.
When Shaq Met His Match: The Viral Moment That Stunned Basketball Fans
It is a line of sport that demands height, and Shaquille O’Neal has long cast the longest shadow. His 7-foot-1 frame and presence that weighed an estimated 325 pounds allowed him to be larger than life at LSU and during his Hall-of-Fame NBA career.
But with the X post, featuring O’Neal and Rioux, the storyline was flipped: For once, O’Neal was the one looking up, both in the literal and the figurative sense.
Shaq met 7’9 freshman Olivier Rioux 🤣 @GatorsMBK
(via ShaqDieselONeal, TikTok) pic.twitter.com/A4PC2fl9eE
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 12, 2025
Canadian freshman center Rioux, who stands at an astonishing 7-foot-9 inches, will take the court for the Florida Gators, making him the tallest player in college basketball history.
The 19-year-old, already a Guinness World Record holder for being the world’s tallest teenager, was so tall that O’Neal, who has been a giant around his peers for years, was visibly amazed in the clip.
That instant, shared far and wide by NCAA March Madness and O’Neal himself, immediately seized the imaginations of fans and sparked conversation about the role this size may continue to play in the future of basketball.
The Rise of Olivier Rioux: Changing the College Basketball Landscape
Rioux’s journey to Gainesville is as remarkable as his stature. Born in Quebec to a family where height is the norm—his father is 6’8”, his mother 6’2”, and his older brother 6’9”—Olivier was destined to stand out. By age 12, he was already 6’10”, and he continued to grow, reaching 7’5” at 15 and now 7’9” as he enters his college career.
His reputation grew through stints at IMG Academy and international play with Canada’s youth national teams, but his arrival at Florida has set the college basketball world abuzz.
While he red-shirted his freshman season, he was a crowd favorite and a media darling during Florida’s recent NCAA Tournament run. Coach Todd Golden of the Gators has stated that Rioux is not just a gimmick; he has demonstrated flashes of ability during practices, including a soft touch around the rim and an unguardable hook shot.
KEEP READING: WATCH: Gators 7’9” Freshman Center Olivier Rioux Goes Viral for Cutting Down Net Without Climbing Ladder
He has improved his conditioning and movement, and given his size, Florida does potentially have a game-changer in the paint.
As the college game continues to evolve, anticipation runs high for Rioux’s debut. He is not simply the tallest in the sport—he symbolizes basketball’s unbounded potential. Just as a viral video with the legendary O’Neal demonstrated, the future may well dwarf even icons of the past.
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