Was last season an outlier in a career previously defined by dependability, or was it a tone setter for the rest of Xavier Tillman Sr.'s time in the NBA? The Boston Celtics' big man is determined to prove it was the former.
On the heels of the team's first day of training camp at the Auerbach Center, the five-year veteran told Hardwood Houdini the work he put in this offseason captures his motivation to validate that.
I asked Xavier Tillman Sr. how he would describe his motivation to prove that last season was an outlier.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) September 30, 2025
"I think it's through the work that I put in...I think that it's gonna pay off once I get my opportunities." pic.twitter.com/dUZQxhCV6A
"I think it's through the work that I put in," voiced Tillman. "I come in each day, and I work my butt off, and then, depending on the schedule, we gotta come back at night and get extra shots up. So, I just leave it to the work that I do, and I think that it's gonna pay off once I get my opportunities."
What has changed for Xavier Tillman Sr.?
The six-foot-seven big man has hovered around tipping the scales at or near 250 pounds. However, this summer, he lost 12 pounds. Tillman was noticeably slimmer at Summer League in Las Vegas. Seeing him at training camp, it's evident that the transformation has continued.
That will help him succeed as the Celtics switch gears to a faster-paced operation. It will also help keep his knee healthy. The latter was at the root of his difficulty contributing last season.
Xavier Tillman Sr.: "My knee would have days where it would just swell up into a balloon after I'd have one scrimmage...I knew consistency-wise, I could be there to support, but as far as my actual play, I couldn't do everything that I wanted to do."
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) September 30, 2025
"I did learn a ton from KP… https://t.co/i6CneE0QPl pic.twitter.com/zR1z5dHXfc
"My knee would have days where it would just swell up into a balloon after I'd have one scrimmage," he shared after day 1 at training camp. "I knew consistency-wise, I could be there to support, but as far as my actual play, I couldn't do everything that I wanted to do. So, last year was difficult in that aspect.
"But I did learn a ton from KP [Kristaps Porzingis] and from Al [Horford] and from Luke [Kornet] on their preparation and how they took every day, and they were kind of robotic with it. From their strength work to their treatment, everything was day in and day out. That's what I want to take into this year."
Now, Tillman can apply those lessons while having more confidence in his body to support the work he is putting in, as it allows him to bounce back the next day.
Boston's facing uncertainty throughout its depth chart at the four and the five spots. Tillman proving that what happened last season won't define what's to come for him would be a significant development for the Celtics and for the next chapter of his career.