7ft 9in Nigerian basketball player, 18, hopes to become NBA’s tallest ever player after Shaquille O’Neal shared viral footage of him on the court
- Abiodun Adegoke’s height allows him to dunk with both feet still on the ground
- The 18-year-old is currently training at a youth development camp in Dubai
- Footage of Adegoke dunking with ease was shared by NBA legend O’Neal
- Adegoke has so far been overlooked by American scouts, perhaps due to controversy surrounding his age, which was reported as 17 in 2016
A 7ft 9in Nigerian basketball player is hoping to catch the attention of the NBA after Shaquille O’Neal shared viral footage of him on the court.
At his towering height, Abiodun Adegoke can dunk with both feet still on the ground, and if signed, would become the league’s tallest ever player.
The viral video shows the centre, 18, dunking the ball with ease at a youth development camp in Dubai.
A 7ft 9in Nigerian basketball player is hoping to catch the attention of the NBA after Shaquille O’Neal shared viral footage of him on the court. At his towering height, Abiodun Adegoke (in orange t-shirt) can dunk with both feet still on the ground, and if signed, would become the league’s tallest ever player
Despite his height, Adegoke (in orange top) moves with agility, making short work of the diminutive defence
Adegoke (left) has so far been overlooked by American scouts, perhaps due to controversy surrounding his age. Nigerian media reports from 2016 gave the player’s age as 17. At the time he was a student of a sports academy in Lagos. Adegoke insists he is 18
Despite his height, Adegoke moves with agility, making short work of the diminutive defence.
The clip was shared by legendary four-time NBA champion O’Neal, who also played centre.
O’Neal was known for using his 7ft 1in frame to devastating effect on the court.
Adegoke stands seven inches taller than any NBA player in history.
Former Washington Bullets centre Gheorghe Muresan remains the tallest player in NBA history at 7ft 7in, while Manute Bol stood 7ft 6in.
Former Washington Bullets centre Gheorghe Muresan (left) remains the tallest player in NBA history at 7ft 7
Slavko Vranes, Shawn Bradley and Houston Rockets legend Yao Ming were also measured at 7ft 6in.
China’s Sun Mingming – also 7ft 9in – holds the record for tallest basketball player to play professionally in the US, having played for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Adegoke is currently training with the MPAC Sports UAE system as he makes plans for his future.
Adegoke (pictured) stands seven inches taller than any NBA player in history. Yao Ming and Manute Bol shared the record for the tallest player basketball’s biggest stage has ever seen, at 7ft 5in
Adegoke is currently training with the MPAC Sports UAE system in Dubai as he makes plans for his future
He has so far been overlooked by American scouts, perhaps due to controversy surrounding his age.
Nigerian media reports from 2016 gave the player’s age as 17. At the time he was a student of a sports academy in Lagos.
Adegoke insists he is 18.
The viral clip of Adegoke was shared by legendary four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal (pictured), who also played centre throughout his career