Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, school in East Lansing, {and professional} ball in Memphis, Tennessee. Xavier Tillman has by no means been a metropolis man.
Now a member of the Boston Celtics, he’s experiencing it for the primary time. The large buildings, vivid lights, and incomparable roar of a TD Backyard crowd. However none of these issues have been his first commentary.
When requested in regards to the “Massholes” on the roads, Tillman had by no means heard the time period, however he deadpanned mid-question and knew precisely what it meant.
“Sure,” Tillman informed CelticsBlog with out skipping a beat. “I don’t even know [that word], however I really feel like I do know. Yeah.”
The visitors has been Tillman’s largest takeaway from metropolis life up to now, and Boston metropolis life, particularly.
“And I’ve seen individuals simply swerve,” Tillman mentioned. “I’m like, ‘Hey, the place you going? After which I look down like, ‘Oh!’ No, I don’t need that.”
Even when posed with the query of what residing in Boston has been like, the visitors was his first response.
“Town may be very fascinating,” Tillman mentioned. “So, the place I used to be at Memphis wasn’t very — I used to be within the suburb on the market, so there actually wasn’t lots of visitors happening. Like, the roads weren’t loopy. Fairly customary.
“And once I acquired right here, all of the tunnels and the weaves and stuff like that’s like, ‘Oh man, that is loopy.’ Visitors’s decently unhealthy out right here. However it’s fairly cool, although. I’ve by no means been within the metropolis vibe like this, so it’s been fairly superior.”
Since attending to the town, Tillman, a self-declared “foodie,” has been on the lookout for some native eating places. He’s already tried a lobster roll, which he loved, and is on the lookout for some “good Italian spots” as properly. The 25-year-old is keen to discover his new residence and have extra “genuine Massachusetts” meals.
However extra importantly, he’s able to embrace the neighborhood.
Tillman participated within the ultimate Sr. Celtics occasion of the 12 months in partnership with NEBH.
He and former Celtic Leon Powe performed playing cards, checkers, chess, and bingo with over 75 senior residents whereas watching a replay of Sport 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals. Invoice Russell put up 30 factors and 40 rebounds in a 110-107 Celtics win.
It was Tillman’s first time collaborating in an occasion like this since becoming a member of the Celtics, however the video games didn’t go in response to plan.
“I’m an excellent card participant, however they weren’t enjoying the playing cards that I used to be used to,” Tillman mentioned with a smile.
Tillman was all smiles when enjoying playing cards at a desk with among the attendees. And whereas they have been excited to fulfill a member of the Celtics, he was excited to attach with members of his new neighborhood.
“They’re very humbling, to be trustworthy with you,” Tillman mentioned of most of these occasions. “Simply sort of all the way down to earth. Getting to attach with individuals. Clearly, they see you as like, ‘Oh man, you get to be on the court docket. On TV,’ this, that, and a 3rd. However for me, it’s getting a possibility simply to attach with individuals and get to see what different individuals love to do and stuff like that. So, it’s fairly superior.”
