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Being extraordinarily tall comes with its own set of challenges. For Olivier Rioux, a 20-year-old from Terrebonne, Quebec, who stands 7-foot-9, life is a series of adjustments: ducking through doorways, folding himself into cars, and sleeping across two beds pushed together on road trips. Rioux, now playing college basketball for UC-Irvine, is the tallest player in the history of the sport at that level.
On the court, Rioux's presence is unmistakable. He can touch the rim without leaving the ground, and when he catches the ball near the basket, defenders often cling to him like children on a jungle gym. Yet Rioux, who transferred from Florida where he spent two seasons on the bench, is still adapting to the physicality of the game. In his first official game for the Anteaters, he posted 13 points, 12 rebounds, and three dunks in 18 minutes, drawing gasps from the crowd.
A Gentle Giant
Off the court, Rioux is soft-spoken and kind-hearted. He enjoys drawing, painting, swimming, playing piano, and dancing to electronic music. His agent recalls a trip to Taiwan where Rioux posed for 2,000 selfies in a single day, unable to say no to fans. Teammates sometimes form a protective wall around him to help him decline requests. "I just want to be nice to people who are nice to me," Rioux says. "I want to care about those that need to be cared for."
That gentleness, however, may not serve him well in the NBA, where aggression is a prerequisite. UC-Irvine head coach Russ Turner has been working to instill a tougher mindset in Rioux. After Rioux was knocked to the floor four times in a practice, Turner scolded him: "You never let them knock you down, Ollie. Not you. Not ever." In the next game against San Jose State, Rioux stayed on his feet.
Physical Challenges and Potential
Rioux's size presents unique obstacles. His center of gravity is so high that he can be toppled easily, and it takes him nearly an hour to move his 305-pound frame and size 20 shoes from one end of the court to the other. He has the wingspan of a small aircraft, and if he played with more ferocity, he could dominate defensively. But Rioux often seems to hold back, as if blocking shots would be impolite.
Despite these challenges, Rioux's potential is undeniable. He is five inches taller than Victor Wembanyama, eight inches taller than Shaquille O'Neal, and even Yao Ming would have to look up to him. Rioux dreams of playing in the NBA, not for fame or fortune, but to represent his country. "I've thought a lot about why I'm here," he says. "And now I know it's to represent my country in the best possible way I can."
If he does sign an NBA contract, what would he buy? After a moment's thought, Rioux answers, "A house with no chandeliers."
Originally reported by adn.