Tag: Tacko Fall

On this day: Big man Tacko Fall born; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar goes for 55 vs. Boston

On this day, Boston Celtic big man Tacko Fall was born, and legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hung 55 points on the Celtics.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former two way big man Elhadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall — better known to his fans as just “Tacko” — was born in Dakar, Senegal.

Fall’s path to the NBA was a fraught one involving shady handlers nearly costing him his visa, but after some rough going early on in his career as a potential NBA prospect, the Senegalese center would land at Liberty Christian Preparatory School in Tavares, Florida. From there, he would accept an offer to attend the University of Central Florida in nearby Orlando to play at the NCAA level.

At UCF, he would earn American Athletic Conference (AAC) Defensive Player of the Year (2017) and AAC Third Team (2019) honors.

Boston big man alum Tacko Fall continues to dominate in China (highlights)

The Senegalese big man has been putting up 14.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, an assist, just under a steal, and 3 blocks per game in Xinjiang.

Fans of Boston Celtics big man alum Tacko Fall will be happy to hear he continues to dominate in the Chinese Basketball Association playing for the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers, where the 7-foot-5 center is nearly unstoppable in the frontcourt.

The Senegalese big man has been putting up 14.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, an assist, just under a steal, and 3 blocks per game. His free throw shooting (78.4%) is now actually better than his field goal percentage (71.8%), a massive improvement from his time in the NBA, where he shot just 32% from the charity stripe.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to see how the fan-favorite big man has been playing abroad in China courtesy fo the Premier Highlights YouTube channel.

If he keeps playing like this there, we might just see him back stateside soon.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Tacko Fall: If fellow Celtics alum Jaylen Brown doesn’t make the 2023 All-Star team, ‘we riot’

The Senegalese center also made it known he believes Jayson Tatum should win MVP.

While it might be too early for some to be making calls on which players ought to be in the 2022-23 NBA All-Star Game (or for that matter, the 2023 NBA Kia Most Valuable Player award), for Boston Celtics big man alum Tacko Fall, his choices for who should represent the league’s Eastern Conference and this season’s MVP is clear.

Replying to Celtics Wire’s Cameron Tabatabaie on the latter’s recent tweet asking if Celtics star wing Jaylen Brown would be an All-Star again this season after dropping 36 points on the Washington Wizards on Sunday night at TD Garden, Fall had a simple answer.

Said the Senegalese center, “If not, we riot.”

It’s hard to be more straightforward than that, but the Central Florida alum wasn’t done advocating for his former teammates to be feted by the league.

“And (Jayson Tatum) for MVP,” threw in Fall for good measure, with both Brown and Tatum playing well enough that neither is especially controversial as a recipient of either honor — perhaps even favorites to be so honored.

Riot indeed!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Former Boston big man Tacko Fall’s 2022-23 CBA highlights

Boston Celtics big man alum Tacko Fall is carving out a career for himself in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Former Boston Celtics big man Tacko Fall is carving out a career for himself in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers. The Senegalese center has been posting impressive averages of 14.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, an assist and 3 blocks per game in just under 24 minutes of playing time per contest while shooting 71.8% from the field this season.

Fall has been hard at work adding mobility to his game to compliment his 7-foot-5 frame and 8-foot-4 wingspan that got him to the Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

To see Fall in action, check out this highlight clip from the folks at the CBA Highlights YouTube channel.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Brown, Poirier, Fall, Vincent debut; Gavitt, Dickey born; Mangurian passes; Cousy, Macauley jerseys retired

On this day, a number of Celtics debuted, former owner Harry Mangurian passed away, and Dave Gavitt was born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, All-Star forward Jaylen Brown played his first game for the team in 2016, fittingly a 122-117 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the team who had dealt Boston the draft pick that would be used to select him.

The former Cal-Berkeley standout put up 9 points, 2 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and two blocks, with one turnover and two fouls in 19 minutes and 27 seconds of floor time for his debut performance with the Celtics. He shot 3-of-4 from the free-throw line and hit three of his four field goal attempts as well.

Perhaps surprisingly, Brown did not attempt a 3-point shot in his inaugural game in the association.

Talking to Tacko: Catching up with the Boston Celtics alumnus about his new book and more

Basketball player, occasional newsbreaker — and now children’s book author: get up to speed with what Tacko Fall has been up to.

Tacko Fall may not be on the Boston Celtics roster anymore, but even all the way across the Pacific Ocean playing basketball in China in his new home of Xinjiang, the Senegalese center will always be part of the wider Celtics community.

Since leaving Boston to join the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency, the Dakar native has been keeping very busy while also staying in touch with the friends he made while a Celtic, even penning a new children’s book called “Tacko Fall: To New Heights” co-written by his agent Justin Haynes and illustrated by famed children’s book artist Reggie Brown.

Our own Cameron Tabatabaie recently caught up with the fan-favorite big man to talk to him about playing in the CBA on a recent episode of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast, what Xinjiang is like, how he stays in touch with his former teammates, and of course his book

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear the interview in full!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Tacko Fall reveals his friendship with Celtics’ Grant Williams started with a dunk attempt at the 2019 NBA Combine

Not many of us would try to flush the rock on a 7-foot-4 defender.

Former Boston Celtics big man Tacko Fall and Celtics reserve forward Grant Williams were friends even before they joined Boston’s roster after the 2019 NBA draft.

The former revealed how he met the latter on a recent episode of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast. Fall shared that the loquacious forward actually tried some shenanigans at the 2019 NBA draft combine that sparked a friendship that continues to this day.

“He tried to dunk on me at the combine,” laughed Fall. “I blocked the shot and was like, ‘Grant, come on.’ I don’t know why he even tried that.”

The duo became fast friends, even hosting a podcast together for a time. The Senegalese center also was sure to note it wasn’t the only time the 6-foot-6 Williams had tried dunking on the 7-foot-4 Fall.

“He tried it a couple of times in practice,” he explained. “We always have had this back and forth going on. That’s pretty much how our friendship started.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Celtics Lab 146: Catching up with Tacko Fall on his new book, the CBA, and ties to the Celtics

This interview has everything from the details behind his new book and how he likes his new team to the story of how he met Grant Williams (it involves a failed dunk). 

Fans of the Boston Celtics know the story behind Tacko Fall’s journey from Senegal to the U.S. and making his way through the ranks to get to the NBA. He signed with the Celtics in 2019 after what was at times a harrowing journey filled with obstacles as he chased his dream of being a professional basketball player.

Now, the former UCF standout has penned a children’s book to inspire others who may feel the path toward their dreams is just too hard to travel. Fall’s book, “Tacko Fall: To New Heights,” is out in bookstores. It was co-written with agent Justin Haynes with art by renowned children’s book illustrator Reggie Brown.

Cameron Tabatabaie of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast caught up with Fall recently to talk about his book, his new team in the Chinese Basketball Association, his time in Boston, and the Celtics season to come.

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Check out the clip embedded above to hear everything from how he likes his new team to the story of how he met Grant Williams (it involves a failed dunk).

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C/o Justin Haynes

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 99

This is every player in Boston’s history who wore the Celtics’ No. 99 jersey for at least one game as of October 2022.

The Boston Celtics have more retired jerseys than any other team in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean the rest of their jerseys have little history tied to them. In fact, with 17 titles to their name and decades of competitive basketball played in them, the unretired jersey numbers pack in some of the most history not hanging from the rafters of any team in the league.

To that end, we have launched our accounting of that history, with every player in every jersey worn by more than one Celtics player in the storied franchise’s history accounted for.

Today’s installment focuses on No. 99 over the years as of October 2022.

Ex-Boston big man Tacko Fall co-authors new children’s book

The new tome tells the tale of the UCF product’s journey from Senegal to the NBA.

We’ve seen former Boston Celtics big man Tacko Fall on the court playing center, on the sidelines breaking news, and even playing soccer on the pitch. But now the Senegalese center adding yet another chapter to his resume — literally.

The UCF product has penned his first children’s book, called “To New Heights” with co-author and agent Justin Haynes and illustrator Reggie Brown. The tome tells Fall’s story of making the NBA as a small-town boy in West Africa with big dreams and a bigger drive to realize them. “I’ve been profoundly blessed by so many incredible people in my life, people that have inspired me to believe in myself and chase my dreams,” wrote the former Boston big man in an Instagram post announcing the book.

“My book, To New Heights is out today!” he continued. “This is the story of my journey, written with the hopes that it might inspire any kid who reads it, in the same way that so many of you have inspired me.”

Published by Candlewick Press and available in hardcover and digital formats, you can pick up Fall’s new book at most booksellers as of today.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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