New Boston Celtics big man Xavier Tillman, Jr. is a student of the game, and knows the history of the ball club he was just traded to. Speaking to the media not long after his trade from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Celtics, Tillman opened up about the move via team reporter Taylor Snow.
“It’s crazy, to be honest with you,” said Tillman. “I’ve always watched the Celtics in terms of just the winning history of it, back with KG (Kevin Garnett) and all that stuff, and seeing these guys repeatedly go to the Eastern Conference Finals all the time,” he added.
“I’m always locked in on that,” explained Tillman. “So for me to get the opportunity to be part of a winning organization, it’s pretty awesome.”
A look at the Celtics roster after the trade deadline https://t.co/VE04ojf9oX pic.twitter.com/u9J2ax2cdU
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 12, 2024
The 6-foot-7 combo big man will slot into the Celtics’ frontcourt rotation behind Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and — at least to start — Luke Kornet.
The former Grizzly could play his way into some regular playing time for the rest of the 2023-24 season to help spell that trio for the postseason. And Tillman might even see some floor time in the playoffs if injury or matchup dictate it.
But for now, it seems pretty clear that he is very happy with the team he’s now suiting up for — and looking at what they’ve done before he got there, it’s not hard to understand why.
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