Former Boston Celtics center Xavier Tillman Sr. is headed overseas to continue his professional basketball career. Turkish club Tabzonspor announced on Wednesday that they’d signed Tillman Sr. for the upcoming season.
“Welcome, Xavier Tillman,” the club wrote, originally in Turkish. “Our team has added American pivot Xavier Tillman to its roster. We wish Xavier a successful season under our jersey.”
Hoş geldin, 𝐗𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧 🤝
— Trabzonspor Basketbol (@TSBasketResmi) June 24, 2026
Takımımız, Amerikalı pivot 𝐗𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧’ı kadrosuna kattı.
𝐗𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫’e formamız altında başarılı bir sezon dileriz. pic.twitter.com/3aVYG95q9H
Tillman just completed his sixth NBA season. His minutes were few and far between towards the end, so if he was looking for playing time, the former Michigan State standout was wise to take his talents to Turkey.
He spent the back half with the Charlotte Hornets, after being traded by Boston at February’s trade deadline. The deal came as a result of the Celtics’ desire to duck beneath the luxury tax and take the first step towards resetting the repeater tax penalties (which they’ll manage if they remain under the tax line this season).
Xavier Tillman Sr. is a top-tier glue guy
Though he wasn’t playing much at the time, his departure still weighed heavy on the Celtics since Tillman Sr. was an important presence in their locker room.
“When he's been on the floor for us, he's been impactful,” Joe Mazzulla praised prior to Tillman’s March 4 return to TD Garden with Charlotte. “But just impactful in the locker room. Just being there for all the players and really, just great relationships with the staff as well. So, you know, we're very fortunate to have him and happy to see him out there.”
That same impact was quickly felt in Charlotte.
“He interacts and talks about his experiences and builds relationships with our players really well,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee said of Tillman. “So I was looking forward to just getting a guy that I think can help be a good veteran in our locker room and help our young players as we continue on throughout this season and journey.”
Tillman appeared in 67 games for the Celtics from 2024-2026. He averaged 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 21.3% from long range. Though his opportunities didn’t come often, he still had a knack for sinking big shots.
None were bigger than the 27-year-old’s corner three to push Boston’s NBA Finals Game 3 lead over the Dallas Mavericks to 13 points late in the fourth quarter will be remembered forever.
The X factor.
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) June 13, 2024
Xavier Tillman with a big help off the Celtics the bench in Game 3: pic.twitter.com/4GxjxL1o0U
Of course, the Cs finished the job in five games and Tillman will forever be known as a Celtic champion.
There's no doubt that all of Tillman's former teammates and coaches will be rooting for him on this next step. He made an overwhelming interpersonal impact everywhere he went.
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