Tacko Fall is heading back to the NBA. The Philadelphia 76ers announced Tuesday they have signed the 7-foot-6 center to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, giving the towering big man another shot at an NBA roster spot after more than three years away from the league. Fall joins fellow camp invites Jameer Nelson Jr. and Saint Thomas as the Sixers round out their preseason group ahead of training camp in Camden, New Jersey.
Fall, born in Dakar, Senegal, went undrafted out of UCF in 2019 before carving out a niche as one of the most recognizable specialty players in basketball. He spent his first two NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, splitting time on a two-way deal with their G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, before moving to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2021-22 season. Across 37 career games, Fall averaged 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in about six minutes per outing, numbers that undersell his novelty value as arguably the tallest player in modern NBA history.
Why an Exhibit 10 Deal Matters
An Exhibit 10 contract is a well-worn path for fringe roster hopefuls. It allows a player to attend training camp and compete for a spot, with the team retaining the option to convert the deal, waive the player, or steer him to the G League with a bonus attached if he reports there instead. For the Sixers, the signing is notable because it comes as the franchise has reportedly left its third and final two-way contract slot open heading into camp, meaning all three newcomers, including Fall, have a real runway to make an impression before rosters are finalized.
Fall’s calling card has never been complicated: at 7-foot-6 and 311 pounds, he remains one of the most physically imposing rim protectors the sport has ever produced. His measurements at the 2019 NBA Draft Combine still stand as all-time records, including the longest wingspan and highest standing reach ever recorded. Teams that have taken chances on him have done so knowing he is unlikely to be a featured scorer, but his sheer size makes him a disruptive shot-blocking and rebounding presence any time he checks in, and a matchup problem in the paint that few bigs in the league can replicate. Sixers fans hoping to see him patrol the lane in preseason action should keep an eye on the live NBA odds as camp battles begin to shape the roster picture in Philadelphia.
What Comes Next for Fall and the Sixers
Nothing is guaranteed from here. Exhibit 10 deals are inherently short-term audition windows, and Fall will need to show enough in camp and preseason games to earn either a standard roster spot or one of Philadelphia’s two-way slots. The Sixers have shown a willingness in recent years to carry unconventional depth pieces, and adding a player with Fall’s name recognition and rim-altering length costs the front office very little in exchange for the upside of a viral training camp storyline and a legitimate look at rebuilt depth behind the roster’s top-line centers.
For Fall personally, the move represents a chance to prove he still belongs in the league after going unsigned since his stint with Cleveland ended following the 2021-22 season. He has remained a fixture in basketball circles since then, and a strong camp could be enough to convince Philadelphia’s coaching staff there is still a role for a specialist of his size on an NBA bench. Bettors tracking how his camp performance might shift Philadelphia’s outlook can also check the latest futures markets, including the NBA championship odds, as training camp battles begin to play out across the league this month.
