Did last season set the tone for the rest of Xavier Tillman Sr.'s career, or was it an outlier dictated by what happened before it began?
While the Boston Celtics were in the midst of a dominant 16-3 playoff run to Banner 18 in 2024, Tillman tragically lost his father. A postseason distraction may have helped him to some extent in the moment. But after lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy and enjoying a duck boat ride down Boylston Street, he could grieve without it.
"My dad passed away in May, so for me, it was more so to get away from last year to be able to sit with my thoughts and really figure out my next steps, my family's next steps, how are we going to progress, and stuff like that," Tillman told this author last training camp in September.