The Philadelphia 76ers just made a massive move, literally, signing seven-foot-six center Tacko Fall to an Exhibit 10 contract right before the 2026-27 NBA season kicks off. This isn’t just another training camp invite, folks, it marks Fall’s much-anticipated return to the NBA after a four-year absence from the league, with his last appearance being way back in the 2021-22 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s wild to think he’s been away that long.
The Legend of Tacko Mania Returns
You remember Tacko, right? The guy is absolutely one of the tallest players to ever step onto an NBA court, period. We’re talking a staggering 7 feet 5 2/5 inches without shoes and a mind-bending 7 feet 7 inches with them at the 2019 draft combine. Think about that for a second. That’s a physical profile that’s literally unlike anyone else we’ve seen in NBA history, giving him a truly unique presence down low. After going undrafted in 2019, he quickly became a fan favorite with the Boston Celtics, sparking “Tacko Mania” across the league, even though his NBA role was, let’s be honest, super limited.
His NBA career has been brief, consisting of just 37 regular-season appearances split between Boston and Cleveland. During his 2021-22 stint with the Cavs, he played in 11 games, made one start, and averaged 1.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in just 5.4 minutes per game, shooting 41.7% from the field. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story of his impact or potential, though.
Overseas Grind Meets NBA Opportunity
But Fall didn’t just fade away, no way. He’s been grinding overseas, honing his game and waiting for this moment. He spent serious time in China with teams like the Jiangsu Flying Tigers and Nanjing Monkey Kings, then even popped over to Australia’s NBL with the New Zealand Breakers, before returning to the Chinese Basketball Association with the Ningbo Rockets. He wasn’t just collecting checks either; he most recently averaged 11.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, clearly using that massive size as a finisher and rim protector. That’s some solid production, no matter the league!
Plus, remember the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game? He absolutely dominated that event, dropping 20 points, grabbing 21 rebounds, and swatting five blocks. That was a clear, emphatic reminder of how incredibly tough his size is to handle around the basket. Now, the Sixers are giving him another shot with this Exhibit 10 deal. This isn’t a guaranteed roster spot, obviously; it’s an invite to training camp to see if all that development overseas can actually translate back into the NBA game. The big questions are obvious, right? Can he handle the mobility demands of today’s faster, more perimeter-oriented offenses? What about his conditioning after four years away from the top league? Can he defend in space against quicker guards? The Sixers already have a lot of size up front, led by Joel Embiid, so Fall’s got a massive task ahead to even sniff regular NBA minutes. At 30 years old, he’s not that raw prospect anymore. He’s been developing for four seasons, patiently waiting for this moment.
This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for the Sixers, taking a closer look at a guy who’s been working his tail off for another shot. Will this lead to an actual spot on the final roster? That’s still up in the air, and it’ll be a tough fight. But after four long years away, Tacko Fall is officially back in the NBA conversation, and training camp is going to be wild watching him compete for his dream.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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