But then again, how could you not love Tacko?
The world was officially introduced to 7’6 Tacko Fall during March Madness, when his UCF Knights clashed with Zion and the Duke Blue Devils.
UCF was up by three in the final :20 seconds when Tacko fouled out on an and-one by Zion Williamson. He missed the free throw but RJ Barrett put the rebound in to give Duke a one point lead with 8 seconds left. UCF tried for the winning shot but Aubrey Dawkins missed a tip in with two seconds remaining, and Duke survived.
Despite the loss, the love for the 7’6 player from Senegal had blossomed, and fans couldn’t wait to see him play at the next level.
Unfortunately for Tacko, he went undrafted this past June. But fortunately for Tacko, and NBA fans, he signed a deal with Boston and he’s currently playing in the NBA Summer League for the Celtics, where he has quickly become a fan favorite, especially now that Zion is done for the summer.
With an 8-foot wing span, Fall can dunk by basically standing up, almost making it unfair for anyone attempting to guard him or box him out.
TACKO TIME đŽđŽđŽ https://t.co/6gl9WmebWE
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 9, 2019
The crowds cheer for him, screaming “We want Tacko” whenever the Celtics are playing. And it’s not just Boston fans. No, it’s EVERY fan in the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. He even got some “MVP” chants while he was at the free throw line.
Monday night, Tacko went 5-5 from the field, and hit both his free throws, scoring 12 points in 11 minutes. This is an improvement from his summer debut on Saturday, where he scored six points and grabbed four rebounds.
But most impressive was the line of people waiting for his autograph after the game.
Hereâs the line if you wanna get an autograph from Tacko Fall. pic.twitter.com/nlYR9ogwy9
— Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) July 10, 2019
âItâs been a great experience so far, I feel blessed,â said Fall. âEvery game I feel like I have something to prove, that I can play in the NBA. Thatâs where my mind is at. Ever since I got to Boston, they really try to keep me up to speed with everything and here being able to compete with some of these guys is a confidence boost.â
With this type of love, Tacko could easily become a fan favorite across every city. And if he continues to improve on the court, Boston just might have to find a home for the modern day Manute Bol.
