Tacko Fall

El Hadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall (born 10 December 1995) is a Senegalese professional basketball player for the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He has previously played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Fall was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. He moved to the United States at age 16 and later played college basketball for the UCF Knights. Fall went undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, but later signed with the Boston Celtics. During his two seasons in Boston, Fall became a fan favorite. He signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent in 2021.

At 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m), Fall was one of the tallest NBA players and is one of the tallest living humans. At the 2019 NBA Draft Combine, his measurements set all-time NBA records for tallest height in shoes (7 ft 7 in; 2.31 m), longest wingspan (8 ft 2.25 in; 250 cm), and highest standing reach (10 ft 2.5 in; 3.11 m). The NBA now lists players' heights without shoes, so Fall is listed at 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m).

Early life

Fall was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. In 2011, Senegalese basketball coach Ibrahima N'Diaye, the brother of former NBA player Mamadou N'Diaye, heard from a friend about an exceptionally tall teenager that he had seen playing with friends in a local street. After identifying him, they visited the 15-year-old Fall—who already stood 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) tall—at his home and persuaded Fall's mother, Marianne Diop Sene, to allow Fall to start attending N'Diaye's basketball academy. Fall moved to the United States at age 16. He first played organized basketball in Houston, Texas, and trained with NBA Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.