Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. is a professional basketball athlete from the United States, currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. He previously competed in college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.
Xavier Tillman Parents: Meet Roosevelt Tillman and Tanya Powell-May
Xavier Tillman’s parents are Tanya Powell-May and Roosevelt Tillman. His mother had an impressive basketball career herself, playing four years for Michigan and achieving second-team All-Big Ten honors during her senior year in 1990.
She also held the record for most rebounds in the program’s history. Xavier’s parents separated in 2010, and afterwards, he split his time between them under a shared arrangement of physical and legal custody.
In addition to his parents, Xavier has three older brothers named R.J., Ben, and Parker, as well as a younger sister named Madisyn.
As a child, Tillman was involved in various sports such as baseball, soccer, football, and basketball, but he held a particular affinity for basketball and football.
By the age of 14, Tillman had already reached a height of 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters). He pursued basketball further by playing for the Grand Rapids Storm in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).
Xavier Tillman Professional Career
In the 2020 NBA draft, Tillman was selected by the Sacramento Kings as the 35th overall pick but was swiftly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Signing his rookie scale contract with the Grizzlies on November 28, Tillman showcased his talent on April 20, 2021, achieving personal bests of 18 points and 14 rebounds in a closely contested double-overtime game against the Denver Nuggets, although his team fell short.
During a pivotal play-in tournament match for the Grizzlies, Tillman contributed eleven points, seven rebounds, and three steals in a crucial victory over the Golden State Warriors, securing their postseason qualification for the first time since 2017.
This propelled them into a first-round series against the Utah Jazz, where Tillman made his playoff debut on May 23, contributing with two rebounds in a narrow victory in Game 1. Despite a strong effort, the Grizzlies ultimately succumbed to the Jazz in five games.
In the 2022 season, Tillman showcased his scoring ability by notching a season-high 16 points, alongside five rebounds, in a decisive win over the Indiana Pacers on March 24.
The Grizzlies proceeded to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs, where Tillman continued to make an impact, recording 13 points and seven rebounds in a Game 2 triumph on April 19.
Although the Grizzlies clinched the series in six games, their playoff journey ended in the second round, defeated in six games by the eventual champions, the Golden State Warriors.