Africa loves their basketball stars, from Dikembe Mutombo to Hakeem Olajuwon to Joel Embiid. The continent’s ability to develop high-profile players, including ones who pick up the game later in life, has even led to NBA and FIFA making plans to create a 12-team professional basketball league in Africa.
Boston Celtics rookie center Tacko Fall, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Boston this offseason, has entered the limelight himself despite not achieving a level of dominant play that players like Olajuwon or Embiid are known for.
In fact, while visiting his native Senegal for the the first time in seven years, the 23-year-old was granted an opportunity to meet with the country’s’s president: Macky Sall.
Sall, a billionaire, is the fourth president of Senegal and has held the post since 2012.
Their meeting is a high honor for a man who hopes to play in the NBA, preferably for the Celtics, before beginning his career as an engineer.
The 7-foot-7 big man averaged 10.1 points (on 74.0 percent shooting from the field), 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks per game at UCF and 7.2 (on 77.3 percent shooting from the field) points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for the Celtics during the Summer League circuit.
A player who could dominate around the rim as he improves his technique and lower body strength, Fall has caught on in Boston and quickly. He’ll have competition in training camp to be sure but he’s a player that many people — including those with the Celtics organization — want see on the team’s final roster.
Aside from how a team could utilize a player with his size, Fall’s humility and innocence serves him well, as they’re both endearing qualities. Particularly for a team trying to turn the page on a season filled with emotional turmoil.
*All stats gathered from RealGM
