The tallest teenager in the world is battling health problems to play the sport he loves.
Brenden Adams, from Ellensburg, Washington, USA, is 14 years old and almost 7ft 5in tall.
But his body is full of tumours, his joints are enlarged and doctors have found an arrhythmia in his heart.
The eighth-grader's doctors also found Brenden's blood counts were abnormal and were concerned a broken bone could lead to him bleeding to death before surgery on his spleen corrected his blood counts.
He also has arthritis which makes it hard for him to run and jump. He told the KXLY TV station: "I can't run anymore. I can't be active as I used to be."
But somehow he still manages to play American football.
Brenden has now become something of a celebrity and has appeared on Oprah Winfrey's show.
Brenden's team has invented a "secret weapon" using his height - they just chuck the ball to him five yards out and no-one can get anywhere near him. He doesn't even have to jump.
His coach, Kevin Wetzel, told the TV station. "If you want him to get some action, you have to be creative."
Brenden told KXLY that Shaq gave him some good advice: "Just keep your back straight and have fun."
His size is caused by a unique genetic condition which also accounts for his health problems.
But Brenden says he wants to show people there is more to him than just his height - and people should be judged on their personalities.
"Don't think people are weird because of the way they look, because I am a nice person," he said.
There's some good advice from a teenager.
Source: ParentdishUS