BIOGRAPHY

Xavier Tillman Sr.’s Wife: Meet Tamia Tillman

Published

3 months ago

February 8, 2024

Xavier Tillman Sr. is an American basketball player born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He made his Michigan State debut in 2017, scoring four points and three rebounds. In 2018, he set a career-high with nine points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Tillman averaged 2.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game across 35 games, earning the Unsung Player honor.

During his first campaign, Tillman shed a lot of weight to get fitter, dropping from 276 pounds at the beginning of his freshman year to less than 250 pounds. He recorded his first double-double in his third game as a sophomore, against Louisiana-Monroe 80–59, with career-highs of 11 points and 13 rebounds. He also recorded the most single-game blocks by a Michigan State player since Jaren Jackson Jr. in February 2018 on January 21, 2019.

In February 2021, Tillman scored a career-high 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 71-61 win over Rutgers. He won the title of Sixth Player of the Year for the Big Ten Conference after the regular season. He equaled his career high in scoring on March 31 in the Elite Eight round of the 2019 NCAA tournament, with 19 points and nine rebounds.

As a junior, Tillman finished with averages of 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. He announced his candidacy for the 2020 NBA draft after the season but ultimately decided to stay in the draft. In the 2020 NBA Draft, Tillman was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 35th overall pick but was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Tillman set career highs in April 2021, leading the Grizzlies to a 117–112 victory over the Golden State Warriors in their second play-in playoff match. The Grizzlies lost the series in five games, but Tillman led the postseason in points scored (22 points), rebounds (13), and turnovers (none) in a 103-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in game 2.