While we rarely saw him on the floor in the 2019-20 campaign, Tacko Fall has certainly become a fan favorite around the league. The Boston Celtics’ seldom-used backup center had a rather insignificant season in his rookie year, notching 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in seven regular-season games. Fall shot 78.6 percent from the field in 4.7 minutes a night.
Still, the crowd at TD Garden went bonkers each time Celtics head coach Brad Steven fielded Fall in garbage time. Even opposing fans were in awe just at the mere sight of the 7-foot-5 gentle giant. While the Senegalese beanpole has become a household name this season, his newfound fame has yet to translate to immense riches. Let’s have a closer look at Tacko Fall's net worth early in his NBA career.
Tacko Fall’s net worth in 2020 (estimate): $200,000-plus
Considering Fall just finished his first year as a professional player, his last estimated net worth was around just $200,000 in 2019, but that number is likely a bit higher now.
The University of Central Florida product went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and earned a two-way contract with the Celtics, allowing him to split time between Boston and its G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. Fall initially signed an Exhibit 10 contract, but the conversion to a two-way deal gave the big man the opportunity to earn as much as $350,000 if brought up for the full 45-day allotment.
While his salary this season wasn't lucrative, Fall has that rising popularity going for him. In fact, the Senegal native placed sixth in All-Star fan voting for Eastern Conference frontcourt players in February 2020, despite getting little to no playing time. Fall's unique name and massive frame turned him into a brand in itself without him even trying.
The affable giant does not have any significant endorsements just yet, but his massive size alone should help him land some good partnerships in the long run. Wiry totem poles like Shawn Bradley and the late Manute Bol starred in some commercials during their time in the NBA, and Bradley and Gheorghe Muresan both took on movie roles. Fall could get the same opportunities if he sticks around the league.
If endorsements won't come his way, Fall has already taken it upon himself to find some extra income outside of basketball. The undrafted center recently agreed to become a founding athlete of PWRFWD — a company created by former UMass basketball player Luke Bonner.
Bonner, who is the brother of retired NBA player Matt Bonner and Orlando Magic director of player development Becky Bonner, aims to provide an online marketplace built to bring athletes and fans together. Considering Tacko already became some sort of cult personality in just his first year, the PWRFWD owner believes Fall has the marketability that rivals last year's top NBA pick Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Fall is already earning some cash through sales of two dozen different items of apparel, including T-shirts, hoodies, and prints. The Celtics rookie even collaborated with Tivoli Audio to release a limited-edition Andiamo Bluetooth speaker that focuses on Fall's love for anime and his devotion to his native Senegal.
“The athletes are not selling branded apparel; they are selling their own apparel,” Bonner said of Fall's side hustle. “It’s not like a Nike athlete is selling a Reebok shirt on PWRFWD. Tacko is selling a Tacko shirt. The athletes are the retailers, and our platform can serve as an additional value-add tool for their agents, representatives and brand partners.”
Fall's increased popularity also led to a spike in his social media following. He currently has 1.1 million followers (and counting) on Instagram, which Tacko could use in furthering his brand.
While it's nice to see Fall widening his horizons, his biggest bet for expanding his net worth would be to get a huge NBA deal. Considering Tacko Fall is not a blue-chip player commanding a big salary right away after joining the league, he will have to work extra hard to prove himself worthy of the big bucks. His development in the coming seasons will greatly impact how much of a payday bump he will get in the future. Luckily for him, the Celtics reportedly see him as an investment worth keeping in the long run.
The Celtics do need some help with their current frontcourt situation, and Fall might get a chance to get more minutes if he works his butt off this offseason. If staying in Beantown is not in the cards for him, Fall will likely still get a chance to fatten up that bank account elsewhere.
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