Senegalese Basketball Player Tacko Fall is the NBA's Literal 'African Giant'

Last night, the Boston Celtics played against the Charlotte Hornets and defeated them 107-106. Currently the tallest active player in the NBA, Tacko Fall, made his pre-season debut in the last eight minutes of the game, according to the BBC. The Senegalese player continues to battle for a spot on the fifteen-man roster of players who will be drafted for the upcoming regular season.

Over the years, there has been a steady rise in the number of African basketball players going on to play for the NBA. The likes of Nigeria's Chuma Okeke and Chikezie 'KZ' Okpala as well as Guinea's Sekou Doumbouya were all drafted into the NBA this year. It goes without saying that Africans are making some serious moves in the world of professional basketball. In June, Masai Ujiri became the first African General Manager to lead a team to NBA championship victory after the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors.

READ: Meet the 8 African Players Who've Been Newly Drafted Into the NBA

While he admits that he started playing the game much later than his peers, Fall hopes to make his professional debut as an NBA player at the end of October. Just seven years ago, he officially picked up basketball as a sport. He then played college basketball at the University of Central Florida and went on to sign with the Boston Celtics for the summer league after he clocked the highest measurements in terms of his wingspan, standing reach and height at the NBA Draft Combine.

Speaking about his electric debut last night, Fall said that, "I worked so much to get this opportunity to play in the NBA. So right now, I am dreaming. Now, basketball is my life. If I don't play for one day, it drives me crazy." He added that, "I feel blessed. I am just a little kid from Senegal, I barely started playing basketball six years ago. God truly blessed me."