The towering 7-foot-6 big man, Tacko Fall, is officially back in the NBA. He signed a two-way contract with the Sixers, marking his first NBA minutes since way back in December 2021. Talk about a comeback, right?
The Return of the Giant
Listen, we’ve all seen the highlights of Fall’s crazy size since his UCF days. But that unique stature always came with questions: could he keep up? Would his mobility hold up against elite athletes? Honestly, Fall admitted those doubts even crept into his own mind. Years overseas, though? They apparently put him in a much better spot. He told us he improved “Physically and mentally.” Fall said, “When you, I won’t even say seven-foot-plus, but when you reach a certain height, there’s a picture that most people have of you of, ‘OK, can he do this? Can he do that?’ Where mentally you might doubt [yourself], but for me, I feel like I was always capable of that, it’s just pushing myself to realize that and be consistent with it, and that also comes with being in great physical condition.” He’s not wrong. For the Sixers, it’s wild because they’ve actually had two other players 7-foot-6 or taller suit up before: Manute Bol at 7-foot-7 and Shawn Bradley at 7-foot-6, both for parts of three seasons. Fall is hoping he’s the “third time’s the charm” for a big man of that stature in Philly.
Friends in High Places
And get this, he’s not walking into a totally new situation. Fall’s got some serious connections already in the Sixers organization. Remember Mike Gansey? He’s the Sixers president of basketball operations, and he and Fall actually overlapped in Cleveland back in 2021-22. Gansey was transitioning from assistant GM to GM then, and Fall was in his third season. Fall spoke about Gansey after practice Sunday, saying, “Great guy. Always positive. We joke around. Like he would walk around the court every morning [in Cleveland]. I would see him walk around, and he’s doing the same thing [here], and he’s been like that for years. But I’m happy also. Like I got to come here and see another familiar face, which kind of helps with the comfort level.” That’s huge for getting comfortable, for sure.
But wait, there’s an even bigger connection! Newcomer Jaylen Brown, who played with Fall for both his Celtics seasons, is also there. These two are tight, like family. Fall actually named Brown the godfather of his second daughter! Even when Fall was playing overseas, they stayed super close. Imagine telling them they’d reunite in Philly? Wild. Fall put it simply: “Jaylen is my brother. We built a great relationship throughout the years, even while I was away. He’s family. Throughout the years, we built such a great relationship, and for me, I’m very happy that we get to play together.” That kind of locker room support can make all the difference.
So, the big question now is when Tacko Fall will actually hit the court for the Sixers. The dude hasn’t played an NBA minute in years, but he’s clearly put in the work, both mentally and physically, during his time overseas. With familiar faces like Mike Gansey and his “brother” Jaylen Brown by his side, this isn’t just a physical return. It’s a full-circle moment for Fall. Keep your eyes peeled for his debut, because seeing this 7-foot-6 force back in action is going to be something else. What a story!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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