ESPN:Xavier Tillman Sr. is suspended for three months after facing….

Memphis is in a lost season after losing star guard Ja Morant for the year. Morant isn’t the only injury Memphis has dealt with though. The Grizzlies recently faced the Celtics with 13 players on their roster injured in some capacity. With the season lost, it makes sense for Memphis to be active at the trade deadline to try to maneuver assets that will help them create some needed cap space for the future.

Tillman now has the opportunity to make an impact on a team destined for the playoffs. The Celtics currently hold the NBA’s best overall record at 38-12.

Michigan State fans know Tillman looks best in green and white. His presence is missed in East Lansing but Spartan fans will be cheering for him to have success and continue to show the toughness that got him to the league and develop into a consistent role player.

Tillman was selected 35th overall in the 2020 draft by the Grizzlies. He carved out a larger role than most anticipated and proved he belongs at the NBA level. Tillman was averaging roughly 20 minutes per game for Memphis this year. He produced 6.0 points, 1.0 blocks, 1.2 steals, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game this season.

Tillman Sr. (6-8, 245) has appeared in 173 games (43 starts) and has averaged 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.1 minutes while shooting 55.2% from the field over three seasons in Memphis. He set career highs across the board last season with averages of 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 19.3 minutes while shooting 61.4% from the field.

The 24-year-old also has competed in 18 playoff games (12 starts) for the Grizzlies and has averaged 5.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.9 minutes while shooting 57.3% from the field.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Tillman Sr. was acquired by the Grizzlies with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft following his junior year at Michigan State University, where he was named the 2020 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

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