Olivier Rioux decided to redshirt his freshman year
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.
Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux, #32, sits on the bench with his teammates as the Florida Gators hosted the Grambling Tigers at Exactech Area at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun)
"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. 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.
Shaq met 7'9 freshman Olivier Rioux 🤣 @GatorsMBK
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) January 12, 2025
(via ShaqDieselONeal, TikTok) pic.twitter.com/A4PC2fl9eE
Shaquille O'Neal looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston on June 6, 2024. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Rioux has since had another growth spurt, gaining four inches in the last two years, according to Ball Is Life.
Rioux said previously he wears a size 20 shoe on 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.
Florida Gators center Olivier Rioux, #32, gives a fan a high-five after the game. The Florida Gators hosted the Grambling Tigers at Exactech Area at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun)
The Canadian has yet to appear in a game for the Gators, as he decided to redshirt his freshman year.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.