Xavier Tillman Heads Into Hornets Camp as a Deep Bench Option
Xavier Tillman returns to Charlotte for a sixth NBA season after a limited role in 2025-26, when he logged just over six minutes a night. He's not on the injury report, and with training camp approaching, the Hornets have him penciled in as frontcourt depth behind the players who log heavier minutes.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 44 d ago01The story of the nightWhere He Fits on the RosterXavier Tillman is back with Charlotte for the 2026-27 season, wearing No.
Xavier Tillman is back with Charlotte for the 2026-27 season, wearing No. 26. He's a 6-8, 245-pound forward, 27 years old, entering his sixth NBA season out of Michigan State. He finished last season with the Hornets, so there's no team change to track here — he's simply picking up where he left off, occupying a frontcourt depth spot rather than a featured role. His size and college pedigree still make him a rotation piece the Hornets can call on, even if last season's role was limited.
02The 2025-26 NumbersTillman appeared in 30 games last season, averaging just 6.1 minutes per outing.
Tillman appeared in 30 games last season, averaging just 6.1 minutes per outing. His per-game production was modest across the board: 1.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.2 blocks and 0.3 turnovers. He shot 43.5 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from three-point range and 25.0 percent from the free-throw line, with a true shooting mark of 46.1 percent. His usage rate sat at 12.7 percent, and his plus-minus was -0.8. Those numbers reflect a deep-bench role rather than a featured one, with limited touches and limited minutes across the sample.
Tillman1.5 ppg
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