Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. Bio
Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. Born on January 12, 1999, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tillman built his reputation as a versatile power forward and center known for his defensive prowess. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans from 2017 to 2020, where he earned recognition as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Tillman was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, who traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night. He won his first NBA Championship in 2024 with the Boston Celtics.
Early Life and Background
Tillman grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he developed his love for basketball at a young age. During his childhood, he participated in multiple sports including baseball, soccer, football, and basketball, but he preferred basketball and football. By the time he was 14 years old, Tillman had already grown to 6 feet 5 inches tall. He played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the Grand Rapids Storm, which helped him develop his skills against strong competition.
His family has strong athletic roots. His mother, Tanya Powell-May, played four years of college basketball for the University of Michigan, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 1990 and finishing as the program’s all-time leading rebounder. Tillman has three older brothers named R.J., Ben, and Parker, and a younger sister named Madisyn. His parents divorced in 2010 and shared custody of him afterward. Tillman’s brother Parker was a two-time state champion in wrestling and rugby at Forest Hills Central High School and later played football for Northwood University.
High School Career
Tillman attended Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan for his freshman and sophomore years. As a freshman, he averaged 13.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game, earning Associated Press Class A All-State special mention honors. As a sophomore, he improved his scoring to 15.5 points per game while pulling down 9.7 rebounds per contest, leading his team to a 23-1 record and a regional semifinal appearance. He received Associated Press Class A All-State special mention and Detroit Free Press Class A All-State first-team recognition.
During the summer of 2015, Tillman announced his plans to transfer to Grand Rapids Christian High School, citing his desire for more cultural diversity and academic refocusing. The transfer sparked a legal dispute between his parents, with his father supporting the move while his mother preferred he stay at Forest Hills Central. He was cleared to transfer in August 2015 but could not play during his first semester due to Michigan High School Athletic Association transfer rules.
In his junior season at Grand Rapids Christian, Tillman averaged 16 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 62 percent from the field, helping his team win conference and district titles. He earned Detroit News Class A Second-Team All-State honors. As a senior, he averaged 13.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 4.2 blocks per game, leading his school to a Class A state championship game appearance. He was named a finalist for the Mr. Basketball of Michigan award and collected Associated Press Class A First-Team All-State accolades. Tillman was rated as a consensus four-star recruit and was considered the best prospect in Michigan by 247Sports.
Michigan State Spartans (2017-2020)
Tillman committed to play for Michigan State University on September 30, 2016, choosing the Spartans over offers from Marquette and Purdue, noting that Michigan State played the best competition and that the coaching staff were great people. He made his college debut on November 10, 2017, recording four points and three rebounds in a 98-66 win over North Florida. During his freshman season, he appeared in 35 games while averaging 2.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game. He received Michigan State’s Most Improved Player award and shared the Unsung Player award. He worked to improve his conditioning, reducing his weight from 276 pounds at the start of his freshman year to under 250 pounds by his sophomore season.
As a sophomore during the 2018-2019 season, Tillman earned his first double-double with career highs of 11 points and 13 rebounds in an 80-59 win over Louisiana-Monroe. On January 21, 2019, he posted 10 points and a career-best five blocks, the most single-game blocks by a Michigan State player since Jaren Jackson Jr. in February 2018. He scored a career-high 19 points with 10 rebounds in a 71-60 victory over Rutgers on February 20, 2019. He was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year at the end of the regular season. In the Elite Eight round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament on March 31, he matched his career-high scoring with 19 points and nine rebounds in a 68-67 upset win over first-seeded Duke, famously guarding future NBA star Zion Williamson for much of the game.
During his junior season in 2019-2020, Tillman continued his development into one of the conference’s top players. He scored a career-high 21 points with 10 rebounds in a 94-46 win against Charleston Southern on November 18, 2019. He recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high six blocks in an 87-69 win over Michigan on January 5, 2020. On February 11, he had 17 points and 11 rebounds and made a game-winning putback dunk with 6.6 seconds left in a 70-69 victory at Illinois. He scored 23 points with 15 rebounds in a 79-71 win against Penn State on March 3. At season’s end, Tillman was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and second-team All-Big Ten, averaging 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. He declared for the 2020 NBA Draft and ultimately kept his name in the draft.
Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. Career
Memphis Grizzlies (2020-2024)
Tillman was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on draft night. He signed his rookie scale contract with the Grizzlies on November 28, 2020. On April 20, 2021, he recorded career highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds in a 137-139 double-overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, demonstrating his ability to contribute even in defeat.
During the Grizzlies’ second play-in tournament game, Tillman recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in a 117-112 win over the Golden State Warriors, helping the team qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2017. The Grizzlies faced the top-seeded Utah Jazz in the first round, and Tillman made his playoff debut on May 23, grabbing two rebounds in a 112-109 Game 1 win. Memphis lost the series to Utah in five games. During the 2021-2022 season, Tillman also played for the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate.
On March 24, 2022, Tillman scored a season-high 16 points with five rebounds in a 133-103 win over the Indiana Pacers. In the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he recorded 13 points and seven rebounds in Game 2, a 124-96 win. Memphis won the series in six games but were eliminated in six games in the second round by the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. On April 20, 2023, Tillman scored a playoff-high 22 points with 13 rebounds and no turnovers in a Game 2 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Boston Celtics (2024-Present)
On February 7, 2024, Tillman was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Lamar Stevens and two second-round draft picks. He made 20 appearances including two starts for Boston over the remainder of the season, averaging 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. Tillman went on to help the Celtics win the 2024 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the series to capture his first NBA Championship.
On July 2, 2024, Tillman re-signed with the Celtics on a two-year, $4.8 million contract. During the 2024-2025 NBA season, he made 33 appearances including two starts, averaging 1.0 point, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game.
Playing Style and Strengths
Tillman is known as a physical defender who excels at protecting the rim and guarding multiple positions. His collegiate career at Michigan State, where he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, established his reputation as one of the conference’s top defenders. He possesses good instincts for blocking shots and grabbing rebounds, with his 6-foot-8 frame and 245-pound build allowing him to match up against both power forwards and centers. His basketball IQ and understanding of defensive rotations make him a valuable asset for any team seeking interior stability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Tillman’s career highlights include winning the 2024 NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020, being named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in 2019, and helping Michigan State defeat Duke in the 2019 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight while defending Zion Williamson. He was a Mr. Basketball of Michigan finalist and earned multiple All-State honors during his high school career at Grand Rapids Christian.
Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. Career Statistics
Tillman has built a solid NBA career since being drafted in 2020, appearing in over 200 regular season games across his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and Boston Celtics. His collegiate career at Michigan State saw him average 8.8 points and 6.5 rebounds across 95 games played over three seasons.
College Statistics Highlights
During his junior season at Michigan State in 2019-2020, Tillman posted impressive averages of 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. His sophomore season saw him average 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while earning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors. He finished his Michigan State career with numerous double-double performances and multiple games with four or more blocked shots.
Xavier Justis Tillman Sr. Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Tillman comes from a family with deep basketball roots. His mother, Tanya Powell-May, was a standout player at the University of Michigan from 1986 to 1990. She earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 1990 and left Michigan as the program’s all-time leading rebounder. This basketball heritage clearly influenced Tillman’s path to the sport, as he grew up learning the game from a player who excelled at the collegiate level. His father, Roosevelt Tillman, and mother divorced in 2010 but maintained joint custody of their son.
Tillman’s siblings also share athletic abilities. His brother Parker was a two-time state champion in wrestling and rugby at Forest Hills Central High School and went on to play football at the collegiate level for Northwood University. This family’s emphasis on athletics helped shape Tillman’s competitive nature and drive to succeed in basketball.
Personal Life
Tillman is married to Tamia Tillman. Together they have three children. Their daughter Ayanna Tillman was born in December 2016, and Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo credited Ayanna as a factor in Tillman’s improvement as a basketball player during his college career. Their son, Xavier Jr., was born on February 17, 2020, just months before Tillman was drafted into the NBA. Their younger daughter Leilani was born on March 6, 2022. The family resided in family housing at Michigan State University during Tillman’s collegiate career. Tillman maintains an active presence on social media with accounts on X and Instagram.