Former Grand Rapids Christian teammates faced off in the NBA

Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman, left, and Phoenix Suns guard Duane Washington Jr. exchange jerseys after a game on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022. The duo played together at Grand Rapids Christian High School. (Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Suns).

Duane Washington Jr. and Xavier Tillman played two years together at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Now the duo are both in the NBA and they played against each other on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.

Washington came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies 125-108. Tillman had nine points on 4-of-4 shooting for the Grizzlies.

“It felt good, man,” Washington told the Associated Press. “I’ve been working my tail off. I’ve just been believing in myself. Coaches believe in me. My teammates believe in me.”

After the game, the former high school teammates met to exchange jerseys.

Tillman and Washington helped Grand Rapids Christian to a 27-1 record in the 2016-17 season. Their lone loss was in the Class A state title game when the Eagles fell to a Clarkston team led by Foster Loyer.

Washington would move on to play his senior year at Sierra Canyon prep school in California and then a four-year career at Ohio State. Tillman had a dominant career at Michigan State.

Washington might be getting a lot more playing time with the Suns since Devin Booker will be out for awhile with a groin injury.

“We needed every bit of it tonight," Suns coach Monty Williams told the AP. "I thought (Washington) gave us a great deal of juice. He gave us a bit of an edge on the floor.”

Booker grew up in Grand Rapids before transferring after his freshman year at Grandville High School.