Tacko Fall, the towering center known for his height and engaging personality, recently shared insights into his encounters with basketball legends, his admiration for icons of social justice, and his surprising childhood passion for professional wrestling.
Awe-Inspiring Encounters with Shaq and Kareem
When asked about major superstars who have joked about or been in awe of his remarkable height, Fall immediately named two of the NBA’s all-time greatest centers: Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Fall described O’Neal as a genuinely “fun person” and “very easy to interact with.” He noted that conversations with Shaq rarely revolve around basketball. “Most of the time it’s not even about basketball,” Fall shared, adding that he might have only asked O’Neal a basketball question once. “He’s ALWAYS fun to talk to.” Fall met Kareem Abdul-Jabbar while he was still in college.
Lessons Beyond the Court: Social Justice and Aspiration
The conversation quickly shifted to what Fall has learned from Kareem, both from afar and through personal interaction. For Fall, Abdul-Jabbar’s impact transcends the sport.
“Well, from Kareem it’s everything,” Fall stated. While everyone knows of his dominance on the court, Fall emphasized the importance of what Abdul-Jabbar “represented” alongside other historical figures. Fall holds Muhammad Ali as a personal hero, noting that Ali and Kareem “accomplished a lot especially for social justice and what they were about.”
Fall holds these men in high regard as examples of excellence beyond athletics. “Those were great men that accomplished great things beyond basketball; and that’s definitely something that we need to aspire to,” he concluded.
From Basketball Court to Wrestling Ring?
Fall’s formidable size naturally led to a question about a potential career in the WWE. Though he laughed at the idea, Fall confessed to being a huge fan as a child.
“I was a big WWE fan when I was a kid!” Fall exclaimed, naming The Rock and John Cena as favorites. He then recalled another enormous wrestler: The Great Khali. “It’s crazy because I was like, This guy is TALL and now a few years later, I’m TALLER than him!” he joked.
When asked about the current WWE landscape, Fall admitted he’d love to see a match between Roman Reigns and The Rock, though he questioned whether The Rock was still actively competing.
Despite his strong fandom, Fall revealed he has never been to a WrestleMania. His most cherished wrestling memories involve watching the spectacle on television with his grandmother. “I used to watch wrestling with my grandmother; I mean, she used to be obsessed with wrestling,” Fall recalled with a smile. “Her and I used to debate if it was real or not… I thought it was real!”
