Tacko Fall is getting another opportunity in the NBA.
The Philadelphia 76ers have signed the 7-foot-6 center to an Exhibit 10 contract, bringing one of basketball’s most recognizable big men back into an NBA organization after several years playing overseas.
Philadelphia announced the move alongside the signings of guard Jameer Nelson Jr. and forward Saint Thomas as the franchise continues filling out its roster ahead of training camp.
For Fall, the opportunity carries considerably more significance than an ordinary offseason signing.
The 30-year-old has not appeared in an NBA regular-season game since the 2021-22 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then, his career has taken him through international basketball, including stops in China and Australia.
Now he has a chance to fight his way back.
Fall’s contract does not guarantee him a place on Philadelphia’s opening-night roster. Instead, the Exhibit 10 agreement gives him an invitation to training camp, where his performance could potentially put him in contention for a two-way contract or another opportunity within the Sixers organization.
What Does Tacko Fall’s 76ers Contract Mean?
The most important thing to understand about Fall’s signing is that he has not yet secured a guaranteed NBA roster spot.
His Exhibit 10 contract is essentially a training camp opportunity.
Philadelphia can evaluate him throughout camp and the preseason before deciding whether he fits into its plans for the 2026-27 season.
Exhibit 10 contracts also provide flexibility.
Depending on roster circumstances and eligibility, a player can potentially have the deal converted into a two-way contract.
Philadelphia currently has an available two-way spot, creating at least one pathway for a training camp player to remain connected to the NBA roster.
If Fall does not make the main team, another possibility could involve the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate.
For Fall, the objective is straightforward: use training camp to demonstrate that his unusual size can still provide meaningful value at the NBA level.
Why Did the 76ers Sign Tacko Fall?
At 7-foot-6, Fall offers something that almost no other basketball player can provide.
Size.
Even in an NBA increasingly filled with unusually tall and skilled players, Fall stands out immediately.
Philadelphia already has one of basketball’s most dominant centers in Joel Embiid.
But depth at center becomes particularly important given Embiid’s injury history and the physical demands of an NBA season.
Fall gives the Sixers another option to evaluate during camp without requiring the organization to commit a guaranteed roster position immediately.
His presence around the rim has always been his clearest strength.
Fall can alter shots simply by standing near the basket.
He is also a significant lob target and rebounder because of his extraordinary reach.
The question has always been whether those strengths can outweigh the challenges created when opponents force him to defend in space.
Training camp gives Philadelphia an opportunity to find out.
Who Is Tacko Fall?
Elhadji Tacko Sereigne Diop Fall is a Senegalese professional basketball player who became internationally recognizable because of his extraordinary height and unlikely journey to the NBA.
He was born on December 10, 1995, in Dakar, Senegal.
Fall did not grow up expecting to become a professional basketball player.
As a child, his primary interest was soccer.
His height eventually made basketball impossible to ignore.
Fall moved to the United States as a teenager and began developing seriously as a basketball player.
He attended several schools before eventually playing at Liberty Christian Preparatory School in Florida.
College basketball provided the stage where Fall began attracting widespread national attention.
He committed to the University of Central Florida and spent four seasons playing for the UCF Knights.
Tacko Fall Became a Star at UCF
Fall’s size made him one of college basketball’s most unusual players.
Standing 7-foot-6 with an enormous wingspan, he became a defensive presence around the basket.
Opposing players often had to completely alter shots when Fall was nearby.
His offensive game was primarily built around finishing close to the rim, where his height allowed him to score without needing a conventional jump shot.
But Fall’s popularity extended beyond statistics.
His personality, background and appearance made him one of the most recognizable players in college basketball.
The defining moment of his UCF career came during the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
UCF faced Duke in the second round.
Duke entered the tournament with a roster led by Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish.
The Knights came extraordinarily close to producing one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Fall battled Williamson inside throughout the game before eventually fouling out.
Duke survived 77-76.
Despite the loss, Fall’s performance on one of college basketball’s biggest stages introduced him to millions of viewers.
Tacko Fall Went Undrafted in 2019
Fall entered the 2019 NBA Draft but was not selected.
There were obvious questions surrounding how his game would translate to the modern NBA.
His size was extraordinary.
His mobility was the concern.
NBA offenses increasingly rely on spacing, three-point shooting and pick-and-roll actions designed to pull traditional centers away from the basket.
Fall was naturally better suited to protecting the rim than chasing smaller players around the perimeter.
The Boston Celtics nevertheless saw enough potential to give him an opportunity.
Fall joined Boston for Summer League and immediately became a fan favorite.
Crowds reacted every time he entered games.
His enormous height made him impossible to miss, but his approachable personality helped transform curiosity into genuine popularity.
Boston eventually signed him to a two-way contract.
Tacko Fall Became a Celtics Fan Favorite
Fall’s time in Boston was unusual.
He wasn’t a major part of the Celtics rotation.
He didn’t average significant minutes.
But few reserve players generated louder reactions.
Whenever Boston built a large lead late in games, chants for Tacko often began inside TD Garden.
Fans wanted to see him.
When he checked in, routine rebounds and dunks generated enormous cheers.
The phenomenon became known informally as “Tacko Time.”
Fall appeared in limited NBA action while spending additional time developing in the G League with the Maine Red Claws.
He remained with Boston through the 2020-21 season.
His NBA opportunity then shifted to Cleveland.
Fall Last Played in the NBA With the Cavaliers
Fall signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the 2021-22 season.
He appeared in 11 games for Cleveland and made the first NBA start of his career.
That season ultimately became his last NBA regular-season action before the current Philadelphia opportunity.
Across parts of three NBA seasons with Boston and Cleveland, Fall appeared in 37 games.
He averaged approximately 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds while playing just over six minutes per game.
Those numbers illustrate the challenge he faced.
Fall had reached the NBA, but he had not yet demonstrated that he could consistently stay on the floor for meaningful minutes.
When his Cleveland stint ended, he took his career overseas.
Tacko Fall Spent Several Years Playing Internationally
Leaving the NBA did not mean Fall stopped playing professional basketball.
Instead, he began an international phase of his career.
China became one of his primary destinations.
Fall played for several clubs in the Chinese Basketball Association, including the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Nanjing Monkey Kings and Ningbo Rockets.
The international game gave him something he rarely received in the NBA: substantial playing time.
Across his overseas stops, Fall was able to operate as a more significant part of his teams’ rotations.
His combination of size, rebounding and rim protection remained valuable.
Fall also spent time in Australia’s National Basketball League with the New Zealand Breakers.
During the NBL25 season, he averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks across 18 appearances.
Those experiences kept Fall playing at a professional level while the possibility of an NBA return remained open.
Tacko Fall Played for Ningbo Before the 76ers Opportunity
Fall most recently played for the Ningbo Rockets in China.
Philadelphia’s announcement highlighted his international experience since leaving the NBA.
Across four overseas seasons, Fall averaged approximately 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while playing about 18 minutes per game.
Those numbers provide a clearer picture of what Fall can do when given regular playing time.
He remains a highly efficient interior scorer.
He remains difficult to shoot over.
And he remains one of the most physically unusual players in professional basketball.
Whether those strengths can translate back to the NBA is the question Philadelphia will evaluate during training camp.
How Tall Is Tacko Fall?
Fall is officially listed at approximately 7 feet 6 inches, or about 2.29 meters.
That places him among the tallest players ever associated with the NBA.
His standing reach is equally remarkable.
Fall can reach close to the basket without jumping, fundamentally changing how he can contest shots and finish around the rim.
His height has inevitably become one of the first things people discuss whenever his name appears.
But it has also occasionally overshadowed the work required for Fall to build a professional career.
Players of extreme height can experience unique physical challenges.
Mobility, conditioning, balance and injury prevention all become particularly important.
Fall has spent years attempting to improve those areas while preserving the advantages his size provides.
Could Tacko Fall Guard Victor Wembanyama?
Fall’s NBA return has inevitably produced comparisons with San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama is approximately 7-foot-4 and combines extraordinary height with guard-like offensive skills.
Fall is one of the few professional players who can actually look down at Wembanyama.
That alone makes a hypothetical matchup entertaining.
But describing Fall as Philadelphia’s answer to Wembanyama would be premature.
Their games are completely different.
Wembanyama handles the ball, shoots from long range, attacks off the dribble and moves like a significantly smaller player.
Fall is a traditional interior center whose greatest value comes near the basket.
Philadelphia has signed Fall to compete for a roster opportunity, not publicly declared him a specialist designed specifically for Wembanyama.
Still, if Fall makes the team and Philadelphia eventually faces San Antonio, the visual of two of basketball’s tallest players sharing the court would immediately become a major attraction.
Jameer Nelson Jr. Also Joins the 76ers
Fall isn’t the only interesting name among Philadelphia’s new additions.
The Sixers also signed Jameer Nelson Jr.
The 25-year-old guard is the son of former NBA All-Star Jameer Nelson.
The elder Nelson spent 14 seasons in the NBA and is now Philadelphia’s executive vice president of basketball operations.
His son has been working toward an NBA opportunity through the G League.
Nelson Jr. played for the Stockton Kings last season, averaging 18.9 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds across 25 games.
He now gets another training camp opportunity.
The family connection will naturally generate attention, but Nelson Jr. will still need to earn his place through his performance.
Who Is Saint Thomas?
The third signing is forward Saint Thomas.
Thomas already has familiarity with Philadelphia’s system.
He played for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate, last season.
Thomas averaged 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 36 games.
He also participated with Philadelphia’s Summer League team.
At 23, Thomas gives the organization another developmental player who could compete for a two-way opportunity.
Together, Fall, Nelson and Thomas give Philadelphia three very different players to evaluate.
Fall offers extreme size and NBA experience.
Nelson provides scoring and guard depth.
Thomas brings versatility and familiarity with the organization’s developmental system.
Fall Has Become More Than Just a Basketball Player
Part of the fascination surrounding Tacko Fall has always extended beyond basketball.
He has repeatedly demonstrated interests outside the sport.
Fall has spoken multiple languages and developed a reputation as an intelligent and curious personality.
He initially had strong academic interests and at one point considered careers far removed from professional basketball.
In recent years, he has also attracted attention for training connected to firefighting.
Videos and reports surrounding Fall participating in firefighter-related activities naturally went viral.
The idea of a 7-foot-6 firefighter is almost as visually unusual as a 7-foot-6 basketball player.
He has also explored Brazilian jiu-jitsu training.
Those experiences have helped keep Fall in the public eye even while he was playing outside the NBA.
The Sixers Opportunity Could Revive His NBA Career
At 30, Fall is no longer the developmental curiosity who entered the league in 2019.
He has professional experience.
He has played internationally.
And he understands the specific weaknesses that previously prevented him from earning a larger NBA role.
The Philadelphia opportunity therefore represents a different kind of challenge.
Fall doesn’t need to prove that he is interesting.
Everyone already knows that.
He needs to prove that he can help an NBA team win.
That means defending pick-and-roll actions, rebounding consistently, protecting the rim, finishing efficiently and staying effective when opponents attempt to exploit his mobility.
If he performs well enough, Philadelphia has mechanisms to keep him within the organization.
If he doesn’t make the final roster, his NBA comeback attempt could still attract interest elsewhere.
Tacko Fall Is Back Where His Fans Wanted Him
For years, Fall remained one of those former NBA players fans regularly asked about.
Where is Tacko Fall?
Is Tacko Fall still playing basketball?
Will Tacko Fall return to the NBA?
There is finally a new answer.
He is back in an NBA organization.
Not permanently.
Not yet.
Philadelphia has given him a training camp contract, and what happens next will depend largely on what Fall does with the opportunity.
He will enter camp competing for his basketball future rather than simply enjoying the novelty surrounding his height.
Four years have passed since his last NBA regular-season appearance.
During that time, Fall played in China, competed in Australia and continued developing his game away from the league that first made him internationally famous.
Now the 7-foot-6 center has another chance.
Whether “Tacko Time” returns to an NBA court during the 2026-27 regular season will be determined over the coming weeks.
Disclaimer
This article is based on the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster announcement and information available as of September 2, 2026. Tacko Fall has signed an Exhibit 10 contract and is expected to participate in Philadelphia’s training camp. The agreement should not be interpreted as confirmation that Fall has secured a place on the 76ers’ final regular-season roster.
Roster decisions, contract conversions, two-way opportunities and G League assignments remain subject to decisions by the Philadelphia 76ers and applicable NBA rules. This article may be updated if Fall earns a regular-season roster position or if Philadelphia announces another significant change to his status.