Tag: all-star week

Tacko Fall is in Chicago for the dunks you don’t see

While Boston Celtics two way center Tacko Fall is in Chicago making headlines for being dunked on, it’s the ones we aren’t seeing that matter to him.

It’s not often you see Boston Celtics two way center get dunked on.

But the Senegalese big man made a splash at the NBA Dunk Contest as Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon jumped over the 7-foot-5 center Saturday evening, the UCF product once again in the spotlight at an event that actually made him nervous.

Fall had been worried there was a chance he could end up voted in to the weekend’s main event, the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago, which Fall was already planning on attending in order to help coach the annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) camp.

Fall never rose higher in the fan vote than sixth, but it was enough to rattle him nonetheless.

“I was actually scared,” related the former Knight (via the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett).

“I was praying for me not to be in the All-Star Game. I mean, it’s all fun and games and I was very appreciative of it, but at the same time there’s so many people that deserve to be there. Especially right now, there’s some people that deserve to be there that are not there. So just imagine if I was voted into the All-Star Game. I would not have felt good about that.”

“Hopefully someday I will work hard enough to make it just not through the fan vote,” he added in his usual diligent way.

Fall was not part of the original plan for Gordon’s dunk. He ended up roped into the event after Gordon couldn’t convince former Celtic big man Shaquille O’Neal to be the dunkee.

The gregorious big man accepted-

“I wanted to jump over Shaq. He didn’t want to do it,” explained Gordon. “It was really for the people. Everybody was like ‘Tacko! Tacko!’ I was like, cool, man, let’s do it. The tallest dude in the gym. Jumping over somebody that’s 7-5.”

It went relatively smoothly, though the momentary onslaught of Gordon’s nether regions to the top of Fall’s dome made the big man more than a little concerned for his well-being.

And it wasn’t even the only time this weekend the Conakry native was dunked on — he let the prospects at the BWB camp dunk on him repeatedly.

“It’s the most I’ve been dunked on in my career. But, I mean, in a few years, hopefully a lot of them will make it to the NBA, and then we’ll see how it really is,” offered Fall.

The big man looks at such opportunities as part of his own debt for having made it to the league, and willingly embraces the chance to pay forward some of what helped transform his own life.

“Being here means a lot to me, especially doing this camp last summer back home in Senegal. When they told me they had another camp here, I didn’t hesitate. I said I wanted to be a part of it and just help the youth, especially back home in Africa, and guide them and just teach them whatever I’ve learned so far in my career.”

“Absolutely it is my responsibility,” added Fall.

“Especially where I came from, my journey so far and some other people back home that are looking up to us. It’s our duty to pave the way for them, to guide them. For me, it’s a great way to do it.”

While many are distracted by the sheer spectacle of Fall’s size, the big man keeps grinding in the shadows.

Hard work behind the scenes has long been the Senegalese center’s modus operandi — and to bring not just himself, but those who come after as well, to have a chance at greatness based in more than superficial qualities.

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WATCH: Aaron Gordon dunks over Tacko Fall in Dunk Contest

The Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon managed to dunk over 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall for one of his attempts at the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest. It didn’t get hm the win, but you need to see it just the same.

It might not have been the winning dunk of the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest, but we all know it should have been.

The greatest in-game dunk of all time was on a man who stood three inches shorter than Boston Celtics big man Tacko Fall, and while the slam may have been staged for maximum impact, at 7-foot-5, it’s literally almost impossible to find a taller human being to dunk over.

But Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon did precisely that Saturday evening, drawing all the attention such an epic feat should. The judges, however, did not agree, and awarded the win to the Miami Heat’s Derrick Jones Jr.

For his part, Gordon doesn’t plan on participating again, feeling robbed for the second year in a row after earning four straight 50-point dunks, the maximum allowed, without a win.

Given the man jumped over one of the tallest human beings on the planet for one of them, it’s pretty hard to argue against his point.

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Jayson Tatum loses Taco Bell Skills Challenge in first round

Boston Celtics All-Star swingman Jayson Tatum got booted in the first round of the 2020 Taco Bell Skills Challenge, losing his title to the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo.

Boston Celtics All-Star swingman Jayson Tatum probably could have done better in the 2020 NBA Taco Bell Skills Challenge.

The Duke product won it in 2019, and related he planned to retire from the event if he came away with another win in the All-Star Weekend event.

But that honor fell to the Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, with the Celtics forward not even making it out of the first round of the event.

Perhaps the 21-year-old will try his hand in 2021 after the disappointing showing — if nothing else, Tatum could have done more work to prepare for the event by his own admission.

Ensnared by media who kept him away from the course ahead of the event, the former Blue Devil didn’t even have time to do a quick run-through of the event, reports the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett.

“That was quick … I should have practiced,” offered Tatum.

Don’t expect the Celtics swingman to treat the All-Star Game lightly just because he let himself be waylaid by journalists, though. “I think it’s a pretty big deal, being 21 and being an All-Star,” noted Tatum.

“It’s something I don’t take for granted,” he added.

The budding superstar has been putting himself on the map of the league’s most elite players with his play since getting the All-Star nod — his first for the weekend’s main event.

“Honestly, I’m just very happy to be here,” said Tatum.

We’re happy you’re there, too, Jayson — you’ve earned it; just watch out for the paparazzi Sunday.

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Kemba Walker: ‘going to be a very emotional weekend’ at All-Star Game

Boston Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker fielded a lot of questions at All-Star media availability on Saturday, but the loss of Kobe Bryant and David Stern was never far away.

It’s not uncommon at Media Day at the NBA All-Star game for participants to get some unusual questions, and for Boston Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker, this year was no exception.

But some questions were inevitable, given the pall the loss of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s accidental death still casts over the league and event.

It began when the UConn product was asked what was the first thing that comes to mind regarding what Walker learned from Bryant.

“Like I’ve been saying, just his work ethic, second to none,” offered the Bronx native.

“He was a very, very, very hard worker, and you could tell,” added Walker. “Fourth quarter came, I feel like everybody else is always tired, and Kobe wasn’t, you feel me? Yeah, he was a special guy.”

Other questions were less serious, such as where to find the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, which Walker had little trouble answering. “No question. It’s definitely in the Bronx. Any corner store you go to in the Bronx is the best for sure.”

Favorite nickname? “EZ Pass”.  Different playing for a new franchise in the All-Star Game? “Not really,” he began. “I don’t know if it’s something you get used to, but … it’s the same format, just a different team.”

Presumably, Walker was referring to the process of getting selected, or perhaps the newer format of forming the teams through a draft, since he’ll be taking part in a very new format designed to commemorate the life of Kobe Bryant Sunday evening.

Kobe’s memory remained front and center even in the mostly light-hearted interviews Saturday, Walker’s included.

Asked what the weekend was going to be like, the former Husky closed out his media availability with a reminder the wider NBA community wasn’t just mourning Bryant but also former Commissioner David Stern.

The architect of the NBA passed in January after a cerebral hemorrhage suffered in December.

“Very emotional, of course,” said Walker. “Of course with the tragic death of Kobe and Gigi and the rest of the families.”

“David Stern [too], it’s definitely going to be a very emotional weekend, and we’re going to celebrate those guys and everyone else as best as we can. They meant so much to our game. They grew the game so much.”

“We all just have a lot of respect for them,” he closed.

Walker and Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum will celebrate those memories Sunday evening in the All-Star Game — albeit on different teams — in that aforementioned new format to honor the Laker legend.

It will be a big departure from previous iterations of the midseason friendly, and will likely draw a fair number of eyeballs to see how the new format actually works as much as to honor Stern and Bryant.

Whether the format flops or not, the nod to the twin giants lost by the NBA community this year is an excellent way to memorialize the duo, the All-Star game’s Most Value Player trophy having been revealed to being named for Kobe as an additional touch.

And whichever team wins the contest — Team LeBron or Team Giannis — they probably won’t be asking them about breakfast sandwiches.

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Jayson Tatum has 4th-best odds to win 2020 Taco Bell Skills Challenge

Boston Celtics third-year swingman Jayson Tatum hopes to repeat as champion of the 2020 Skills Challenge after winning the year prior, and has the fourth-best odds to do so according to some online sportsbooks.

A popular online sportsbook gives Boston Celtics third-year All-Star forward Jayson Tatum the fourth-best odds to win the NBA Taco Bell All-Star Skills Challenge.

The event features center Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, guard Patrick Beverley of the Los Angeles Clippers, guard Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers and Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors.

Derrick Rose of the Detroit Pistons was planning to participate in the Skills Challenge as well, but withdrew after getting injured with an adductor strain.

BetMGM online sportsbook gives Tatum the fourth-best odds to repeat as Skills Challenge champ, behind only Dinwiddie, Middleton and Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Duke product won the 2019 Taco Bell Skills challenge, and Tatum will retire from the event should he repeat as victor this year, reports the Boston Globe’s Chad Finn.

For those with interest in seeing the event, it will be broadcast on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States at 8 p.m. ET.

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Tacko Fall coaching Basketball Without Borders Camp at All-Star week

Fan favorite two way center Tacko Fall of the Boston Celtics is helping coach the Basketball Without Borders camp during All-Star week in Chicago.

There may not be any games for the Boston Celtics OR Maine Red Claws this week, but fan favorite two way center Tacko Fall is keeping busy just the same.

However, this week his work is on the sidelines instead of the court as he joins Chicago Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen and Toronto Raptors wing Pascal Siakam in helping coach the top international prospects at the sixth annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp.

Held in Chicago, Illinois during All-Star week, the camp runs for three days between Feb. 14 and 16, and will feature 64 girls and boys who are among the world’s top basketball prospects.

The trio of NBAers will be joined by former WNBA players Ashley Battle, Michele Van Gorp and Ebony Hoffman as coaches, and Chicago Bulls assistant coach Karen Stack Umlauf, Milwaukee Bucks assistant coaches Vin Baker, Josh Longstaff and Ben Sullivan, and Chicago Sky director of player development John Azzinaro will also serve in coaching roles.

Some of the activities the participants will engage in include 5-on-5 games, life skills seminars focusing on health, leadership and communication, movement efficiency, skill development stations, and shooting and skills competitions.

Attendees will also  be present for the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night and the 69th NBA All-Star Game, and the BWB camp will be visited by members of all 30 NBA teams as they look to scout some of the world’s best prospects, coached in part by Boston’s Fall.

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