In a stunning move that is sure to shake up the National Basketball League (NBL), the New Zealand Breakers have signed towering 7’6″ center Tacko Fall for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The acquisition comes on the heels of the Breakers parting ways with American big man Freddie Gillespie, who played his final game with the team on Saturday against the Cairns Taipans.
Bidding Farewell to Gillespie
Gillespie, who averaged a respectable 6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a league-leading 1.8 blocks per game during his stint with the Breakers, expressed gratitude for his time with the organization. “I’ve built great and lasting relationships with my teammates, the Breakers staff, and our incredible fans,” Gillespie said in a statement. “I’m truly proud of everything we’ve accomplished together this season. As I look ahead, I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my journey.”
According to sources close to the situation, Gillespie plans to sign with Olimpia Milano following his departure from the Breakers.
Enter Tacko Fall
The arrival of Tacko Fall brings an entirely new dimension to the Breakers’ roster. Standing at an imposing 7’6″, Fall is one of the tallest players in professional basketball history. The Senegalese center spent three seasons in the NBA from 2019 to 2022, primarily with the Boston Celtics and most recently as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over his 37 total career NBA games, Fall posted averages of 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Fall, now 28 years old, last played for the Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico. He was originally slated to join the Breakers for their trio of NBA preseason games but was ruled out of all three contests due to a quad injury. Despite the setback, Fall traveled to New Zealand to continue rehabilitating the injury and has been amongst the Breakers’ playing group for the majority of the current NBL season.
“Tacko is still recovering from his injury but is expected to be available relatively soon,” a source close to the team revealed.
Breakers Sitting Pretty
The addition of Fall comes at an opportune time for the Breakers, who currently sit in second place with an impressive 7-3 record heading into the November FIBA window. The team’s head coach, Petteri Koponen, informed the playing group about Gillespie’s impending release and Fall’s signing on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the situation.
With Fall’s towering presence in the paint and the Breakers’ already strong start to the season, the team appears poised to make a serious run at the NBL championship. Fall’s ability to alter shots, grab rebounds, and finish at the rim could provide the Breakers with the extra boost they need to separate themselves from the pack.
A New Chapter Begins
As Tacko Fall prepares to embark on this new chapter of his basketball journey with the New Zealand Breakers, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how his unique skill set will translate to the NBL. At 7’6″, Fall’s height alone makes him a force to be reckoned with, but it will be his ability to adapt to the league’s style of play and mesh with his new teammates that will ultimately determine his success.
For the Breakers, the acquisition of Fall represents a bold move that could pay significant dividends as they look to make a deep playoff run and potentially capture their first NBL title since the 2012-13 season. With Fall in the fold and a talented roster surrounding him, the sky – quite literally – may be the limit for this New Zealand squad.
As the NBL season continues to unfold, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Tacko Fall and the New Zealand Breakers, eager to witness the impact this towering figure will have on the league and his team’s fortunes. Only time will tell if this gamble will pay off, but one thing is for certain: the NBL just got a whole lot more interesting.
