THEY say that size isn’t everything – but when it comes to the NBA, it certainly helps.
Every year, the league seems to get taller, with 7ft6 Cavalier Tacko Fall currently the biggest player plying his trade on the circuit.
But even Tacko’s great height pales in comparison to Nigerian giant Abiodun Adegoke, who in 2021 caught the eye of NBA great Shaquille O’Neal.
A towering center, Adegoke stands at a staggering 7ft9 (2.36 meters), two inches taller than ANY player who has ever featured in the NBA.
That’s level with Sun Mingming, a former Harlem Globetrotter who holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest professional basketball player of all time.
Adegoke’s incredible frame has captured the imagination of the internet, with his Instagram videos going viral under the name ‘Big Naija’.
In the clips, he lines up against 5ft6 teammates, catches balls with just one clench of his mighty hands and dunks without his size-53 feet even leaving the ground.
Not a lot is known of Adegoke’s roots, but his story can be traced back to the streets of Nigeria’s third-biggest city Ibadan.
He attended the Segun Odegbami International College (SOCA) on a sports scholarship, with reports in Nigeria suggesting he was 7ft2 at the age of 17.
The Nigerian Guardian reveals how Adegoke arrived at SOCA with shoes made from truck tires and was forced to play basketball barefoot because his sneaker size was not available.
He reportedly became a local celebrity within the campus and wanted to emulate Nigerian-American NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon.
Since leaving Nigeria several years ago, Adegoke lived in relative obscurity until his skills went viral in early 2021.
And he jokes on his social media bio that he is STILL growing, stating: “Standing at TBA (I have GROWN)”
Adegoke currently plays at MPAC Sports in the UAE, appearing in Dubai’s Elite Youth League last year after being picked 9th in the first round of the draft.
But there continues to be speculation about Adegoke’s real age, with conflicting reports placing him between 18 and 23.
The Nigerian has teased his followers online who are keen to know his real age, insisting in 2021 that he was still a teenager.
While reports in Nigeria in 2016 suggested he was already 17 by that year.
So far there has been no move from NBA scouts on the prospect, but he has caught the eye of some basketball royalty in the last two years.
Former LA Laker Shaq shared a clip of Adegoke showing off his surprising agility and lay-ups in March 2021.
O’Neal stands at 7ft1 and was known for his rebounding ability at both ends of the court – but Adegoke towers a stunning EIGHT inches above the NBA great.
Exceptionally tall athletes often struggle with injuries throughout their career and many of Adegoke’s fans are keen for him to protect his body at all costs.
One wrote: “This kid should be with a proper strength trainer doing yoga and stabilization exercises to protect his hips, knees and lower back.
“Hopefully he gets the attention and the coaching he needs to stay healthy.”
This article was first published in 2022
PICTURES: Lekan Fatodu Facebook
-Sun US
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