Shaq sizes up 7′9″ Florida Gators basketball player in viral TikTok vide0
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Retired basketball star Shaquille O’Neal meets Florida Gators Men’s Basketball player Oliver Rioux, the tallest teenager in the world, in a viral TikTok video.
Shaq posted a skit on his social media page in which the 7′1″ basketball star stares down a shorter man only to turn around and look up at Rioux.
The redshirt freshman playing for the University of Florida was named the world’s tallest teenager by Guinness World Records. He is 7′9″.
The video is captioned “Pick on someone your own size 😂”
Shaq is no stranger to the home of the Florida Gators. His daughter Me’Arah O’Neal plays for the women’s basketball team.
He was also the grand marshal of the “A Very Merry GNV Holiday Parade” in December 2024.
There are not too many basketball players taller than Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, but the Los Angeles Lakers legend may have met his match in a recent social media video.
O’Neal posted a TikTok skit onto his account on Saturday.
He was seen arguing with a man shorter than him and then turning around to find the 7-foot, 9-inch tall Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux standing behind him.
“Pick on someone your own size,” O’Neal captioned the video.
Rioux made O’Neal look like a guard instead of a dominating center.
The 15-time All-Star was listed at 7-foot-1 during his playing days.
Rioux was considered to be the world’s tallest teenager when he committed to Florida.
7-foot, 9-inch tall Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux standing behind him standing next to Shaq.@shaq/TikTok
Rioux made O’Neal look like a guard instead of a dominating center.@shaq/TikTok
Rioux was the Guinness World Record holder for tallest teenager, standing at 7 feet, 5 inches as a 15-year-old.
He stood 6 feet, 1 inch at age 8, 6 feet, 11 inches by sixth grade, and reached 7 feet during the summer before entering seventh grade.
Rioux has since had another growth spurt, gaining four inches in the last two years, according to Ball Is Life.
Rioux (c) takes a break at practice with teammates Kajus Kublickas and Kevin Pazmino on Oct. 18, 2024, in Gainesville, Fla.AP
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (R) and teammate Shaquille O’Neal discuss the game during the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA playoffs, April 20, 2003, at the Target Center in Minneapolis.REUTERS
Rioux said previously he wears a size 20 shoe in his Instagram bio.
He says his older brother is 6 feet, 9 inches; his dad is 6 feet, 8 inches, and his mom is 6 feet, 1 inch.
He played high school ball at the IMG Academy and was a three-star prospect.
The Canadian has yet to appear in a game for the Gators, as he decided to redshirt his freshman year.
