World’s tallest teen getting even bigger… and he’s eyeing the NBA

The world’s tallest teenager has kept on growing, breaking his own height record.

This week, 18-year-old Canadian Olivier Rioux was measured at seven feet nine inches tall, or 236cm tall. He wears size 20 shoes.

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Unsurprisingly, Rioux is a handy basketball player and has committed to go to college and play for the Florida Gators.

Highlights of the teen giant towering over opponents and dunking without jumping have gone viral.

Back in 2021, Rioux was recognised as the world’s tallest teen by Guinness when he stood at seven feet six inches, or 228cm tall. So it’s safe to say he’s continuing to break his own record.

“With the whole Rioux family being tall, Olivier’s childhood home was updated to accommodate everyone’s stature,” Guinness wrote when presenting him with the record.

“Tabletops, and ceilings are all higher than average. The only thing that remains the same is the doorframes, which have seen their fair share of collisions with the top of Olivier’s head.

“As a child, Olivier spent hours looking through his Guinness World Records books, studying the tallest people, and comparing himself to every record holder. After failing to find someone taller than him in the 2015 and 2016 editions of the books, Olivier was inspired to achieve the title himself and recalls being “emotionally shocked and relieved that (he) finally got it!”

Per Florida’s official men’s basketball website, Rioux was 6’1” at eight years old, 6’11” in sixth grade and passed seven feet prior to the seventh grade.

Rioux’s father is 203cm, 185cm and his brother his 205cm tall.

Last year, Rioux posted a photo of himself towering over Denver Nuggets NBA champion Jamal Murray when he was 12 years old. Murray is 193cm tall.

NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama is currently the tallest player in the league at 224cm.

In comparison, other top NBA centres include Rudy Gobert (216cm), Nikola Jokic (211cm), Giannis Antetokounmpo (211cm) and Joel Embiid (213cm).

Rioux would likely need a few years in the college system to see if has the skill and athleticism to be considered as an NBA draft prospect.

Two-time NCAA player of the year Zach Edey is 224cm tall and emerged as one of the more eye-catching players in the March Madness tournament earlier this year.

Edey isn’t a capable three-point shooter who can stretch the court, so most pundits believe he will be a competent back up centre who should be picked in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft.

— With NY Post