Fall signs with Celtics after NBA Summer League
Tacko Fall signed a contract with the Boston Celtics, parlaying a strong NBA Summer League performance into a future with the NBA franchise.
Fall, who measured 7-foot-7 in shoes at the NBA Combine, showed greater mobility and strength than he displayed during a decorated UCF career. He quickly became a fan favorite, sparking fans to chant, “We want Tacko,” any time he was not on the floor during summer-league games.
Fall averaged 7.2 points on 77.3% field-goal shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots during five summer-league games. He scored 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting and added eight rebounds against Memphis on July 11, one of his two double-digit scoring performances.
Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens spoke highly of Fall during summer-league play.
“First of all, I think he’s a good basketball player, but I can’t tell you how impressed I’ve been with his humility and self-awareness,” Stevens told ESPN’s Doris Burke during a July 10 game. “Everybody is staring at him when he walks in the building. He walked in, and all of the ESPN cameras are just running right to him and he’s not even a drafted guy. He just has a tremendous way about it.”
Stevens later added, “He’s a really enjoyable person to talk to. I can’t say enough great things about him as a kid, and I hope that he gets a chance to continue to be a kid and enjoy this process.”
Fall grew up in Dakar, Senegal, and moved to the United States with the hope his natural athleticism and height would help him earn a college scholarship and potentially play pro basketball.
After a few stops, he thrived at Liberty Christian Prep in Tavares. He signed with UCF and improved steadily each year despite not playing organized basketball until high school.
He averaged 10.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks during 115 games at UCF, earning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. Despite some injuries, he helped UCF reach the NIT Final Four and earn an NCAA Tournament win. Both were first-time accomplishments for the Knights.