Tacko Fall, known for his towering height, recently opened up about his basketball journey in China. Fall, who signed with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2022, shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities he encountered while playing in the CBA.
Speaking to Shams Charania, Fall said, “At the beginning, it was a little bit of an adjustment, especially the game is so much different. Talent-wise it might not be as good, but physicality is way above what I’ve seen in college, even in the NBA.”
The 7’6″ center described the relentless defensive pressure he faced as an import player, comparing his on-court treatment to that of a star like Steph Curry.
“They play very physical, especially when you’re an import. Everything is focused on you,” Fall said. “I used to joke, I used to get on the phone with some of my friends, like ‘I’m getting guarded here like I’m Steph Curry.’ Because they would literally be with you from one sideline to the other like I’m shooting from half court. But I’m just trying to get to the post.”
Fall’s experience in China demanded a shift in his playing style. He noted that in the NBA, teams often encouraged him to play in the drop and focus on shot-blocking, while in China, he had to adapt to an aggressive, up-close defensive approach.
Fall played for the Milwaukee Bucks in this year’s NBA Summer League, but opted to continue his journey in China, signing with the Nanjing Monkey Kings.
