Former 2.26 meter NBA star sets record for tallest player in football history

Pavel Podkolzin, a 7-foot-2 former NBA center, officially debuted for Amkal Moscow.

Pavel Podkolzin, a 7-foot-10 former NBA center, officially debuted for Amkal Moscow, becoming the tallest player to ever play professionally in the history of football. He was even 7 inches taller than the crossbar.

Podkolzin, now 40, was one of the rare “giants” of the NBA in the early 2000s. He suffered from acromegaly due to a pituitary gland disorder, and thanks to that, he possessed an outstanding physique.

In 2004, the Utah Jazz selected Podkolzin in the 21st round of the NBA Draft, before transferring to the Dallas Mavericks. Here, he appeared in 6 games, scored 4 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and had 1 block - a short NBA career but enough to put his name in the list of the 10 tallest players in the history of the league, only 5cm shorter than Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan.

After leaving the NBA in 2006, Podkolzin bounced around the lower leagues before making a surprising move to soccer. He was convinced to join the club by Amkal Moscow’s president, a former teammate in a local basketball league. “It was a great opportunity for me to try another sport . I’m really grateful for that,” Podkolzin said.

From the NBA hardwood to the soccer turf, Podkolzin's journey is a living testament to the extraordinary.

In his debut match in the Russian Cup, Podkolzin was deployed as a striker. His imposing presence immediately attracted all eyes. Although he did not score, Podkolzin still almost made his mark: “They have an excellent goalkeeper. I will try in the next match”. Amkal Moscow eventually won 1-0 against FC Kaluga.

From the NBA hardwood to the soccer turf, Podkolzin’s journey is a living testament to the extraordinary. At 40, the Russian giant still knows how to make the world look up – this time literally on the field.

Source: https://znews.vn/cuu-sao-nba-2-26-met-lap-ky-luc-cau-thu-cao-nhat-lich-su-bong-da-post1578707.html