A boy in the United States as smashed the Guinness World Record for largest hands and feet ever seen on a teenager, as the ex-Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal helps pay for shoes to allow him to continue his football career.

Eric Kilburn Jr., a 16 year old who lives in Michigan, stands at a staggering 6ft 10in tall but has recently shocked the world for the size of his hands and feet which absolutely dwarf those of a typical American man.

His hands clock in at 9.13 inches, almost two inches larger than those for a typical 16-year-old, whilst his feet are 13.5 inches long making him a size 23 in male shoes compared to the average of a nine, although the attention from onlookers doesn’t bother him.

“People are usually amazed and feel comfortable starting conversations with me about the size of my feet and hands,” Kilburn Jr. told Guinness World Records. “I meet lots of interesting people this way.

“Being in the Guinness World Records book still feels surreal,” he admitted. “To have gone from reading the books to being inside the 2025 book is something I never would have imagined was even possible.

“This experience is something that I am so grateful for. It really couldn’t be any better, in my eyes.”

His feet size means he has been unable to purchase shoes in a shop since the age 10/11 and he requires custom shoes reaching the cost of around $1500.

So he opted to wear crocs instead. However, the crocs caused blisters, ingrown toenails and other discomfort due to the winter conditions in Michigan and he has also had his football career interrupted.

O’Neal helps the kid out

The youngster has always had a size advantage over the other kids his age and it helped him start to chase a career in football, which has since come under threat because he hasn’t stopped growing.

An ankle sprain caused by not having appropriate shoes saw Kilburn Jr. have to watch on from the sidelines, with his shot at making college football and even the NFL beginning to slowly slip away.

Enter the four-time NBA champion, Shaquille O’Neal, who chose to raise awareness of his story as well as companies such as Under Armour and Reebok. Together, the trio helped get him some appropriate shoes to continue his life in comfort.

Now the 16-year-old has become an entrepreneur and has launched Big Shoe Network, a family-based nonprofit organization by the Kilburns, seeking to help individuals find clothes and shoes in their size.

“I want to help people the same way I was helped when I needed it,” Kilburn Jr. added. “It’s okay to stand out.

“Don’t let negativity distract you from your goals.”