Born on January 12, 1999, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, Xavier Justis Tillman Sr., is an American basketball professional who currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. He previously competed in college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
Xavier Tillman Children: How Many Kids Does Xavier Tillman Have?
Xavier Tillman and his wife Tamia Tillman have three children together: two daughters and a son. Their daughter Ayanna Tillman was born in December 2016, and their son, Xavier Jr, was born on February 17, 2020. Their third child name is however not known to us at the moment. The family lived together in a family housing unit at Michigan State University.
Career of Xavier Tillman
Tillman entered the NBA when the Sacramento Kings selected him as the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, but he was swiftly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night.
He inked his rookie scale contract with the Grizzlies on November 28, 2020. Notable performances include his career-best game on April 20, 2021, where he scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a double-overtime match against the Denver Nuggets.
In key moments, such as the Grizzlies’ victory over the Golden State Warriors during the second play-in tournament game, Tillman showcased his skills with eleven points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
This victory secured the Grizzlies’ first postseason berth since 2017, although they faced a tough challenge against the top-seeded Utah Jazz in the first-round series. Tillman made his playoff debut on May 23, 2021, contributing two rebounds in a Game 1 win. Despite their efforts, the Grizzlies were eliminated by the Jazz in five games.
On March 24, 2022, Tillman delivered a standout performance, scoring a season-high 16 points and grabbing five rebounds in a victory against the Indiana Pacers. In the subsequent playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he continued to make an impact, tallying 13 points and seven rebounds in a Game 2 triumph on April 19.
Although the Grizzlies clinched the first-round series in six games, their postseason journey ended in the second round after a six-game series loss to the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors.
Notably, by April 20, 2023, Tillman achieved a playoff career-high of 22 points, along with 13 rebounds and no turnovers, in a significant postseason victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2.
On February 7, 2024, Tillman’s career took a turn as he was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Lamar Stevens and two second-round draft picks.