PHILADELPHIA — Newly signed Philadelphia 76ers center Tacko Fall is reuniting with a familiar face as he prepares for his NBA return. Speaking directly regarding his signing ahead of training camp, the 7’6″ big man shared his excitement about joining forces once again with former Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown.
“It is an opportunity of a lifetime that I shall not waste,” Fall shared with ScoopB.com by phone this evening.
“Really looking forward to playing alongside JB and doing whatever it takes to help the team.”
While he is on an Exhibit 10 deal with the 76ers, Fall has been staying basketball ready. Just this weekend, he participated in the Maconomics Celebrity Basketball Game hosted by Ross Mac in Chicago. Other notables who participated included the Chicago Bulls’ Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis. Additionally, New Orleans Pelicans lockdown defender Herb Jones played, as did the Detroit Pistons’ Javonte Green.
The connection between Fall and Brown runs deeper than just shared locker room memories in Boston from 2019 to 2021. Fall has long been one of Brown’s staunchest supporters.
During a Summer 2022 interview with Scoop B Radio, Fall spoke candidly about how Brown was viewed across the league.
“Man, first of all, I think Jaylen is very disrespected,” Fall told me at the time. “He doesn’t get the praise he deserves sometimes and he’s a great player… For him, he’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s very focused, he’s locked in, he knows what he wants to accomplish. The outside noise doesn’t really matter, it’s what the organization thinks of him.”
Beyond his bond with Brown, Fall drew early praise from NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. Reflecting on Fall’s transition and agility as a unique physical force, O’Neal offered his endorsement on how big men adapt to the modern game:
“Tacko is cool,” O’Neal joked with Scoop B Radio.
“I like tacos. Nah, he’s cool. I wish him well… Everything we do is about rhythm. You have to have a certain rhythm. As long as these big guys can dance, can move and are agile, they should do pretty well.”
Fall’s physical profile has turned heads since his entry into the league structure. Bleacher Report noted during his draft process that Fall measured at 7’7″ in shoes at the NBA Draft Combine with a wingspan of 8’2½”, setting records for both.
In four seasons at UCF, Fall averaged 10.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. The big man shot an impressive 74 percent from the field in over 115 games, capping off his collegiate tenure by leading the Knights to the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, where they nearly pulled off a historic upset against top-seeded Duke.
Following his tenure with the Celtics and a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Fall spent time playing overseas, developing into a dominant rim protector in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) with teams like the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Nanjing Monkey Kings and Ningbo Rockets.
Fall joins a Philadelphia squad that has reshaped its depth and roster flexibility throughout the offseason. As the 76ers evaluate frontcourt options and interior rim protection behind Joel Embiid, Fall brings rare length, established chemistry with Brown and a dedicated mindset as he competes for a main roster spot heading into training camp.
