PRO SPARTANS

LeBron James gives Xavier Tillman, JJJ, Tom Izzo a shoutout

LeBron loves him some MSU hoopers.

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2023

Brendon Pricco

In his post-Timberwolves win interview on Tuesday night, LeBron James gave Xavier Tillman, Tom Izzo, and Jaren Jackson a shoutout.

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers play the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA playoffs this season. The Grizzlies have had an incredible season, earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

That wouldn’t have been possible this year without two former Spartans, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Xavier Tillman.

Jackson has had a career year, averaging 18 points, six rebounds, and an astounding 3.1 blocks per game. His work on the defensive end has put him as a leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

A more quiet contributor to Memphis’ success has been Xavier Tillman. Even LeBron James himself acknowledged it.

“Xavier Tillman has been playing good basketball. Obviously been well coached all the way from his college days, you know, with Coach Izzo,” James said.

Lebron mentions Xavier Tillman and Tom Izzo when previewing his matchup with the Grizzlies pic.twitter.com/V2LwnGMORN
— MichSt Country (@CountryMichSt) April 12, 2023

LeBron also mentions Jaren Jackson earlier in the post-game interview as a player that the Lakers need to be aware of.

Izzo can be credited heavily with Tillman’s development.

As a high school prospect from Grand Rapids, Mich., Tillman wasn’t even ranked inside the top 100 of his class. In fact, 247Sports clocked him in at 112th nationally and the 25th-best power forward nationally.

As a freshman at Michigan State, he averaged just under three points per game and just under three rebounds per game. By his junior season, he averaged a double-double with 13.7 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game.

That season was good enough for Tillman to leave school early to pursue his dreams of playing in the NBA.

Now in his third NBA season, the big man is averaging seven points per game to go with five rebounds a game, while contributing to a top playoff team. Tillman is also averaging 0.5 blocks per game and one steal per game to go along with it.

Not bad for a second-round pick.