In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Celtics reserve big man Xavier Tillman Sr. stepped up when his team needed him most.
With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined due to injury, Tillman delivered big moments in what was his first-ever action in the NBA Finals. And while it was Tillman's NBA Finals debut, the poise he displayed has many fans in disbelief that he is not a seasoned NBA veteran.
How old is Tillman? Learn more about his age, path to the NBA and how he got to the Celtics.
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How old is Xavier Tillman?
Tillman is 25 years old. He was born on Jan. 12, 1999, in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Tillman was a four-star recruit in the high school class of 2017. After a standout career at Forest Hills Central and Grand Rapids Christian High School, Tillman enrolled to play for Tom Izzo at Michigan State.
At Michigan State, Tillman was part of a two-player recruiting class that featured Jaren Jackson Jr. Tillman spent three seasons with the Spartans, winning Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020 before declaring for the NBA Draft.
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Xavier Tillman NBA Draft
The Kings selected Tillman with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was almost immediately traded to the Grizzlies, joining his former college teammate in Memphis.
Tillman spent three and a half seasons with the Grizzlies, with one of the biggest highlights coming in Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. In a series-tying win against the Lakers, Tillman scored 22 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Memphis traded Tillman to Boston on Feb. 7, 2024.
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Xavier Tillman measurements
Tillman is listed at 6-7, 245 pounds on the Celtics roster.
At the 2020 NBA Draft Combine, Tillman's wingspan measured 7-2 and his standing reach measured 8-10.
Xavier Tillman career stats
- 6.0 points per game
- 4.1 rebounds per game
- 1.4 assists per game
- 0.9 steals per game
- 0.5 blocks per game
- 52.2 percent field goal shooting
- 26.7 percent 3-point shooting
- 57.4 percent free throw shooting
