The Montreal Canadiens, one of the oldest and most storied franchises in sports, have some big fans. But none are as literally big as Olivier Rioux, the 7-foot-9 NCAA basketball sensation who attended Game 3 of the Canadiens' second-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. The Habs secured a dominant 6-2 victory at the Bell Centre, and Rioux was there to witness it.
Rioux Towers Over Crowd and Players
Rioux was easy to spot outside the arena, towering above the crowd. He was interviewed by Kwabena Oduro of CBC Montreal, who joked on social media: "Easily the tallest person I've ever interviewed. Never felt so short in my life." The interview and accompanying photo quickly went viral.
After the game, Rioux posed for a photo with Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, who stands at just 5-foot-9. The image highlights the stark height difference, with Hutson appearing tiny next to the record-breaking hoopster. The photo was shared widely on social media, drawing amazement from fans.
Who is Olivier Rioux?
Rioux, a native of Terrebonne, Quebec, was already 7-foot-5 at age 15 and was named the tallest teenager in the world by Guinness World Records. He was recruited by the Florida Gators basketball team and spent two years with the program. During the 2025 season, Florida won a national title, though Rioux was a redshirt freshman and did not play.
In his second season, Rioux finally saw game action and set multiple NCAA records. He became the tallest player ever to appear in a game and the tallest to score a field goal. Standing at 7-foot-9, he surpassed the previous NCAA record holder, Paul Sturgess (slightly over 7-foot-7). Rioux also outmeasures NBA legends like Yao Ming (7-foot-6) and Manute Bol (7-foot-7).
Rioux played 11 games for Florida, including a brief appearance in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Last month, he transferred to UC-Irvine to seek more playing time and further development.
Series Update
Game 4 of the series between the Canadiens and Sabres is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m., with Game 5 set for Thursday in Buffalo. The Canadiens currently lead the series 2-1 after their dominant win.
