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Michael Dwyer / Associated Press
Tacko Fall’s 7’5 “frame helped him stand out during his college career in central Florida, and he immediately became a cult figure in the NBA after signing with the Boston Celtics.
Fall logs into the B / R app to properly celebrate “Taco Tuesday” with an AMA session.
The rookie center talked about his early NBA career in Boston, his viral dance moves on TikTok, and a wide variety of other topics, including his unplanned participation in the Slam Dunk 2020 contest.
What is your favorite game or game of your career?
My NBA career so far? I would say my first game and the first basket I had at Madison Square Garden. When Knicks fans started cheering us on, that’s when I found out. It’s special when it happens in your arena, but crazier when you go to another arena and people are cheering you on.
@ AndrewMayer777: What is it like to play with a powerful team like the Celtics?
I said this not long ago, every time I put on that shirt and I’m in the locker room and I see the Celtics logo on my chest, even though I haven’t had that many opportunities this year … every time I put on the t-shirt, I feel so amazing to think of all the greats who have put on the t-shirt, one of my favorites is Kevin Garnett. What they embodied, what they were about, the Larry Birds and Bill Russells. They put on the same shirt and the same parquet. Boston fans are the best in the NBA.
@JCTheLit: The best stories about your teammates?
Most of them can’t speak … I wouldn’t say one specifically. In my opinion, we have the tightest group in the NBA, from vets to rookies. We entered and they took us all under his protection. They’ve been taking good care of us, guys like Kemba, Marcus, Gordon. Even some of these vets are the same age … but they have done a good job of making us newbies feel like we are a big part of the team. That is all you can ask for.
@Not_Rudy_Gobert: What is your favorite part of Boston?
Boston is very old and has a lot of history, it shows that driving is very beautiful. And the different seasons … it’s my first year watching the seasons change, fall and all that. Leaves that change color, that was really pretty. I used to drive a lot between Boston and Maine, and that driving was really amazing to look around. Some days it snowed and it is quite white everywhere.
@ vic4life: Were you nervous when AG was about to sink into you?
I was scared, really scared. But I knew Aaron was a flyer. I’ve known Aaron for a few years, seeing him around Orlando … I thought, Aaron, I trust you … but I was scared, yes. It wasn’t planned, I think he was trying to get Shaq, but Shaq turned around and said “go get Tacko”. The contest was going to be a draw or Aaron was going to win it. And then none of that happened. I think everyone was surprised in the arena, especially the players.
@ ky_james_13: Who do you want to dip in? Any player at any time.
Anyone. Every time I walk onto the court … no matter who I am, I just get so competitive where it doesn’t matter who I am, I’m just trying to dive in.
@Stephen__A_Smith: Who are your 5 best basketball players of all time?
There is no way I can choose 5, there are so many. Of the old school boys, I’m a huge fan of Kareem, Bill Russell, Hakeem, Dikembe, Tim Duncan, LeBron …
@Vernstradamus: What did Coach K tell you after the NCAA Tourney game?
I didn’t speak to Coach K. We shook hands after the game and he nodded, I think that was it. But I know Coach K was really upset that I heard it from some of his players … I was upset that Coach Dawkins is almost like a son to him … and he was very close and I feel like we should ‘win that game .. The way we lost, I think it really touched Coach K.
That game was crazy. Obviously, it’s Duke and everyone has Duke as the favorite, but deep down we knew what we were capable of. We were much older, we had more experience … we knew that as long as we played with our strength we would have a chance to win the ball game. Honestly, we had nothing to lose. The boys went in and were locked up the whole time. Coach Dawkins had a great game plan that we follow for the book … some things are bound to happen, others are not supposed to happen. I guess we were destined to lose that game, but a lot of positive things came up. The UCF name was put there … we wanted to put our school on the map.
@MRFunFact: Who inspired you to play basketball?
I would say many people. I picked up the ball when I was 16, it happened randomly. A guy named Abraham runs an academy in Senegal … one day he saw me on the street, his brother is a big basketball fan. One day after school, a group of kids who used to hang out together, just took the ball and started going out to an outdoor basketball court, all hit with concrete floors … one day I was alone and this guy comes up to me and says: I’ve been looking for you, can you come with me? I know someone who wants to talk to you, has an academy … I waited there for 30 minutes, he came with Abraham, he said he would like me to come and try. He came and talked to my mother, he said that his son should play basketball and that I can help him, I can help him get a scholarship and go to the United States, go to high school and continue his education. From there, my mother was fine, and six months later I was here. Thus began my journey.
But I wouldn’t say that when I started I was so involved with the game because I was a huge soccer fan growing up. My mom also put me in martial arts because she thought I was soft … basketball was the last. But once I got to the United States, I started playing and the more I did, I became so competitive that I wanted to catch up. All these children he played against played their whole lives. At first I was embarrassed … and then pride started to kick in, so I started studying the game and from there fell in love with the process of improving and becoming the best basketball player possible. to be.
@Steve_Perrault: You are getting that Tik Tok love now. What is your dance move?
I don’t have a TikTok, it’s something I like to do for fun. Since we’re in quarantine and all that, I’m on TikTok just to watch, and suddenly I thought maybe I should try … one day I thought, why not do it? And it was fun.
What is Tacko’s Tall Tales about?
Just remember that when I was a child, my mother and grandmother used to read African stories to us, things we enjoyed. I’ve never heard of all these American books, so I thought it was a good idea to do so. At the same time, get the kids involved and try to entertain them while everyone stays home.
@DumbDingus: What is it like to be so tall?
It’s all I know, so I can’t tell the difference. All I would say is that everything is made for people like you or others, so I have to get used to many things. But for the most part I am very comfortable with my height.
@ NBL21_bombasquad: What is the worst injury you have hit your head on?
Concussion. It actually happened at the beginning of the season, I think. I was on the premises and I hit my head very hard. Some concussions take a week, another two weeks … I think mine was about a week or a week and a half. I had to go through the protocol and clarify it.
@ krock35: How tall were you in fifth grade?
I don’t remember I just know that the only time I wasn’t the tallest in my class was in elementary school and the boy who was taller than me was much older than me. I was probably one of the youngest in my class.
@shank_s: How do you fit in your car?
My truck is quite large and I feel quite comfortable. There are definitely many cars that would not be possible for me.
@PhillyBoul: Do you like tacos?
yes
@ Ky_james_13: Who is your favorite celebrity?
Definitely rihanna
Go to the pregame song or soundtrack?
It depends on the mood of the day. Some days I really need to get excited, so I was listening to very loud and aggressive music, like DMX. New rappers recently like Pop Smoke, although he just passed away, I’d hear that. Other days I feel like I’m too excited and need to relax, so I’ll listen to old school R&B, reggae like Bob Marley or Lauryn Hill. Other days I miss home, so I will listen to African music.
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