At 7-5, Boston Celtics big man Tacko Fall is one of the tallest humans on Earth. This size is useful on the basketball court, but can it be used in other settings? Say… as a conductor, perhaps?
Fall, who's on a two-way contract with Boston's G League team, the Maine Red Claws, was honored as a guest conductor for the Boston Pops Orchestra on Monday, leading a rendition of “Sleigh Ride” for their Holiday Pops Show.
A few murmurs of laughter were heard as Fall rose his arms to begin the number, but they turned to cheers once the show began:
The suit that Fall wore while conducting is rather unique. A size-48, double-extra-long tuxedo that required extra fabric to be shipped in from Philadelphia, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.
“This town has been buzzing about this gentleman — not just because of his impressive stature but also because of the size of his heart and personality,” Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart said, via the Boston Globe. “He’s made a big impression in a short period of time.”
This isn't the first time a member of the Celtics organization has served as a guest conductor for the Boston Pops, as Shaquille O'Neal was recognized with the honor in 2010.
Fall has played well with the Red Claws, which has led to his popularity among Celtics fans. He's a defensive powerhouse, sending back shots with relative ease. In his eight G League appearances thus far, he's racked up averages of 13.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 22.4 minutes per outing.