NBA All-Star Game 2020: Let's talk about Tacko Fall

Micah Adams

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NBA All-Star Game 2020: Let's talk about Tacko Fall image

Tacko Fall ranked sixth among Eastern Conference frontcourt players in the first returns for All-Star fan voting.

Upon first glance, it might seem ridiculous that someone who has played all of 11 minutes for the Boston Celtics would receive so many All-Star votes.

And yet, a closer look reveals there's far more to his candidacy than Celtic pride.

VOTE HERE FOR THE 2020 ALL-STAR STARTERS

Because numbers never lie and there's no running from the truth, I'm using this momentous spectacle as an excuse for taking Fall's rise far too seriously.

Scoring machine

Did you know that Tacko Fall is in the midst of the most prolific per-minute scoring season in NBA history?

As Han Solo told Rey in Force Awakens: "It's true. All of it."

Tacko Fall

Did you know that if you take every player in NBA history that's played at least 10 minutes in a season and sorted by points per minute, Fall ranks numero uno?

Most Pts/Min in Single Season
Season Player Pts/Min Minutes
2019-20 Tacko Fall 1.18 11
1961-62 Wilt Chamberlain 1.04 3,882
2019-20 James Harden 1.02 1,239
1995-96 Darrell Armstrong 1.02 41

13 points in 11 minutes. Now that's efficiency, baby!

Better than Wilt Chamberlain

OK.

Let's address the elephant in the room.

And no, it's not the fact that Fall has stepped on the floor for all of 11 minutes so far this season.

But first... let's take a poll, shall we?

Using only the information provided, which player would you take? Player A on top or Player B on bottom?

Take your pick

No, seriously. Take your pick:

 

 
Which player is better?
Player A
Player B
 
 
 
 
 
 

I'm just going to assume you took the player that is:

  • Younger
  • Shooting better
  • Scoring more points
  • Grabbing more rebounds

The good news is that this is no trick... Tacko Fall is in fact, on a per-minute basis, "better" than Wilt Chamberlain the year he averaged over 50 points per game. (Granted, The Big Dipper did it while averaging OVER 48 minutes per game, but don't let silly things like facts get in the way).

Tacko > Wilt

The Efficiency G.O.A.T.

Player Efficiency Rating... it's never been wrong. Ever.

Michael Jordan is the all-time leader, followed by LeBron James. That's a pretty good smell test for me!

Well, move over MJ... because it's Tacko Time.

The Celtics living legend - and let's be clear, anytime you're a 7'5" orchestra conductor for the Boston Pops, that's exactly what you are - has a PER of 35.3 through his 11 minutes of floor time.

Facts are facts.

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs

Micah Adams

Micah Adams Photo

Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.