Xavier Tillman Discusses Adapting to Celtics, New City, and Joe Mazzulla's Message

Xavier Tillman is quickly growing comfortable in the Celtics' system and connecting with his new city off the court.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Xavier Tillman spent Tuesday evening at the Salvation Army in Boston's South End as the Celtics, partnering with Dunkin', unveiled a newly renovated indoor gymnasium.

The six-foot-eight, 245-pounder from Grand Rapids, Michigan, helped lead a basketball clinic for over sixty youth in attendance. Surprise giveaways included a pair of Celtics tickets for a child who stepped up and swished a shot to cap the event.

Brian Babineau

Since arriving at the trade deadline, the former Memphis Grizzlies big man has volunteered his time to connect with his new community on multiple occasions.

As kids exited the gym, smiling ear-to-ear, Tillman stated that events like this put things in perspective and are a great reminder about "why we have to come to work with a great mentality because you just never know who's watching."

He also spoke with Inside The Celtics about acclimating to his new city, conveying, "Boston is great," and that he's glad to have moved out of a hotel, helping him get more comfortable in his new environment.

And while trying to avoid potholes and missing his exit have presented his stiffest challenges off the court, he's loving what he's learning about the local fan base.

"I learned how much they love the Celtics," voiced the three-year veteran. "It doesn't matter the demographic — if you're in Boston, if you're in Massachusetts, everyone loves the Celtics, and I love that."

Brian Babineau

He's also thrilled to have gone from a team decimated by injuries that derailed their season to the one that's now 54-14 and 6.5 games ahead of the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, who share the second-best record in the NBA.

"Ever since I've been here, we've won the majority of the games," said Tillman. It's just (been) awesome to see."

The 25-year-old has always been a team-first player. It's a significant part of why the Celtics believed he'd fit in well with their roster.

"He plays the game for the right reasons," expressed the franchise's president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, a day after trading for Tillman. "He competes, he passes, thinks the game well, all the stuff that we've been fortunate with the guys we have around our best players, that they've brought to the table; he knows how to play. So, we're excited to have him."

While discussing his willingness to do whatever he can to contribute to Boston's success, the former Michigan State Spartan stated, "For me, I'm doing whatever it takes to help us continue that, whether I need to be a lockdown defender or a rebounder, or a spacer on the court."

After slowly integrating him, waiting until after the All-Star break for his team debut, Tillman's quickly proving comfortable in the C's system, working particularly well alongside Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, or Luke Kornet in double-big lineups without compromising floor spacing at the other end.

"Feeling good, especially defensively — getting a sense of our schemes and how we like to guard," he said of his transition into the Celtics' system. "A lot of it is playing towards my strengths, allowing me to switch a lot more, use my voice on defense as well."

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Tillman also shared his initial impression of his new bench boss, Joe Mazzulla, and detailed their first conversation after Boston acquired him.

"He's very authentic, he's very himself. I remember when we had our first phone call, it was the first thing he told me was, 'Don't be weird,' and I loved it.

"What he meant by it was, (that) whoever you are, whoever you want to be perceived as, be that. You don't have to feel forced to try to fit in; just be who you are and let that work. And I've been following that, and it's been awesome."

While it's still early in the process, Tillman, an unrestricted free agent this summer, growing comfortable on the court, in the locker room, and in his new city, bodes well for him going from partnering with Horford to becoming his successor in the rotation, helping the Celtics contend for championships beyond the current campaign, continuing to give back to the community as he does so.

Brian Babineau

Further Reading

Derrick White Reflects on Basketball Journey, First Triple-Double: 'I Never Stopped'

Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'

Jayson Tatum Plays Entire Second Half vs. Suns: 'Don't Really Say That Many Times'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'