Xavier Tillman signs deal with European team

After an NBA career that spanned six seasons across four different franchises, former Michigan State basketball star Xavier Tillman Sr. is headed overseas. This week, it was announced by Turkish club Trabzonspor Basketbol that they have signed Tillman to a contract.

Tillman was originally drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies after playing three seasons for Michigan State, where he was the 2019-20 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Tillman played in 290 games across his NBA career, starting in 61 of those games. He averaged 4.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in his career.

Tillman’s strong defense allowed him to play six years in the NBA, but his three-point shot prevented him, as a smaller big, from landing a larger role in America’s top league.

Trabzonspor Basketbol is in the top league in Turkey, Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL), and the ycompete in the FIBA Basketball Champions League.

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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Former MSU star Xavier Tillman signs deal with European team