From Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal, to Giannis Antetokounmpo, every Big Man brought new flair to the NBA. Not just them, but the fundamental rule of basketball is the height that carries a player to the basket. As of 2024, the league has encountered 29 players above 7 feet, so where does Victor Wembanyama fit in all this? More importantly, what about collegiate phenom Olivier Rioux?
The current Florida Gators star by age 10, was already towering at 5’2”. His next growth spurt took him to new heights, not just metaphorically but physically as well. Even though they won’t be facing each other in the NBA anytime soon, let’s check who the Bigger Man is between the two.
Victor Wembanyama vs Olivier Rioux Height, Wingspan Comparison
The French superstar boasts a long 7’4″ stature as per the official info on the San Antonio Spurs’ website. However, as usual, there is some discrepancy in that since his exact height listed on NBA data is 7’3.5″. So, his assumed height is about 2.21 meters. Gheorghe Muresan, with his 7 ‘7 frame, is the tallest NBA player. Following him is Manute Bol. Several sources have credited the Sudanese big man, Bol, as the tallest player. However, Guinness World Records declared Muresan as the tallest. But when it comes to wingspan, Bol takes the vote.
Manute Bol [8’6″] and Tacko Fall [8’2″] are the top two players with the longest wingspan in NBA history. In third place is Wemby, as his wingspan is about 8 feet as per the ESPN sources. To nobody’s surprise, college athlete Olivier Rioux clears ‘The Alien’, who also won the 2024 ROTY.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Basketball – Men’s Gold Medal Game – France vs United States – Bercy Arena, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Stephen Curry of United States in action with Victor Wembanyama of France. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
At the age of 15, the Canadian stood an astonishing 7 feet 5 inches tall. Even this height would have been enough to tower over the Spurs star. However, Rioux, now measuring an incredible 7 feet 9 inches, making him a standout presence in basketball. The Guinness World Record acknowledged the Gators’ athlete as the world’s TALLEST TEEN and one of their Young Achievers in the Guinness World Records 2023 book. If he entered the NBA now, he would easily displace Wembanyama not just in height but in the wingspan list as well.
As per reports, his wingspan is 8 feet 1 inch. He is yet to take to play this year, as he has red-shirted this season. Once he steps foot on the hardwood, he would replace Kenny George’s 7’7” record as the tallest in history.
Why the Gators star is not playing this season?
“I am proud to announce that I have committed to the Florida Gators for the 2024 season,” the 19-year-old wrote on his official Instagram account. After choosing to join the Florida Gators as a “walk-on of choice,” the Quebecois teenager was ready to make his mark in college basketball when he stepped onto the court. It would have been more than just “the tallest player in college basketball,” as his coach noted. But that did not materialize.
“This wasn’t a choice I made for him. It’s something people from our program, his family, and his AAU coach discussed.” Florida coach Todd Golden explained the decision, “I just told him, ‘I’m not trying to burn your year putting you in for 30 seconds.’” Luckily, Rioux has taken it all in stride, showing the patience of a player who knows his time will come.
Next season will be the first of his collegiate career, let’s see if his progress is as similar to his height spurt. If so, the tantalizing matchup of Victor Wembanyama and Olivier Rioux will be one for the ages!
The post Olivier Rioux vs Victor Wembanyama Height, Wingspan Comparison & More: Which 7ft Star Is Bigger & Wider? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
