Shaquille O'Neal stands at an impressive 7 feet, 1 inch, earning fame for his towering height. Recently, the larger-than-life former NBA star met his match in a hilarious moment that had fans laughing out loud. O'Neal encountered Olivier Rioux, an 18-year-old college basketball player who stood much taller beside him.
Rioux, a 7-foot 9-inch center for the Florida Gators and the Guinness World Record holder as the tallest teenager in the world, quickly became the talk of the internet by “out-gianting” O'Neal in a playful interaction.
The Surprise Meeting
Instagram | hotfreestyle | Viral footage captures O'Neal's encounter with the towering 7'9" Rioux.
The viral video captures O'Neal engaging in a lighthearted conversation with Logan Bohbot, the director of artist management at Medium Rare. O'Neal turns around and comes face to face with the 7-foot 9-inch Rioux, whose chest nearly reaches O'Neal’s eyes.
The NBA legend reacts with a priceless expression, slowly tilting his head back to meet Rioux’s gaze before looking directly into the camera in shock. The two athletes share a good laugh, sparking a wave of laughter across the internet.
Shaquille O'Neal's Humorous Reaction
Throughout his basketball career, O'Neal has commanded attention for his massive stature, but this unexpected encounter turned into a moment of pure comedy. O'Neal embraced the humor with his lighthearted personality and shared the raw footage from his DJ Diesel account, captioning it, "Pick on someone your own size."
Fans quickly filled the comments with their reactions, with one writing, “It’s wild when Shaq has to look up!” Hot Freestyle originally shared the clip on Instagram, captioning it, "SHAQ got out-gianted." Fans flooded the comments section, praising the video as the funniest moment of their day. One user joked, “Lmao bro IS the damn hoop,” while another added, “Shaq only looks up to the Statue of Liberty… till now…”
A Record-Breaking Teen
Olivier Rioux, the young player who made this encounter so memorable, isn’t just any college basketball player. He holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest teenager in the world. At just 15 years old, Rioux reached a height of 7 feet 5 inches, securing the title. Now, at 18, his growth continues, and his presence on the basketball court is impossible to miss.
Instagram | olivier.rioux | Olivier Rioux, the world's tallest teenager, holds a Guinness World Record.
