Robert Bobroczky

Robert Bobroczky (born July 17, 2000) is a Romanian basketball player for the SPIRE Institute near Geneva, Ohio, United States. Measured at 7 ft. 7 in. tall, Bobroczky first garnered attention for his towering stature, drawing comparisons to professional basketball players of similar heights such as Manute Bol. He is currently listed as the tallest individual in European basketball.

Bobroczky was born in Arad, Romania.^[1] When he was a pre-teen, Bobroczky began to experience a dramatic swell of growth, and had already surpassed the height of his father, 7-foot-1-inch former basketball player Zsiga, by 12 years-old. He has been the subject of medical studies nearly his entire life, leading to the prevailing opinion Bobroczky's frame is a result of genetics, not hormonal imbalance.^[2]

In 2014, Bobroczky was recruited by A.S. Stella Azzurra, an amateur-level basketball club based in Italy that produced NBA power forward Andrea Bargnani.^[3] The scouting report on him noted that Bobroczky possessed an improved midrange jumper and passing ability, and his physical attributes made him an obvious mismatch against any of his opponents. Like most players of his stature however, Bobroczky was limited by his lack of muscle mass, endurance, and mobility on the court. His tremendously awkward gait and threat of exhaustion forced Bobroczky to play limited minutes after helping the team win its Under-15 championship title. Bobroczky, nonetheless, became an internet sensation in early 2016, as videos surfaced of him dominating his much shorter competition during a game with Stella Azzurra.^[4]

Later his family moved to Geneva, Ohio so Bobroczky could attend a certified American Olympic and Paralympic training facility called the SPIRE Institute.^[5] Entering his freshman season, Bobroczky was put on a minutes restriction as he attempted to bulk up his rail-thin physique and transitioned into American basketball.^[6][7] In January 2017, sports director Bobby Bossmen confirmed a statement: "We do weight training to harden his core and he’s also in the pool three times a week with our trainers strengthening muscle groups. He eats three meals a day along with protein and meal replacement shakes. The main thing is ensuring we give him enough calories in his diet, and we’re in the adaptive stage to see how his body responds".^[8] On January 14, 2017, Bobroczky made his debut for SPIRE Institute.^[9] As of February 2017 Bobroczky attends nearby Grand River Academy.^[10]

As of 2017, Bobroczky is currently the tallest European basketball player and the second tallest in the world, behind Paul Sturgess, who played in the NBA Development League.^[7]

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