Joe Mazzulla opens up about his relationship with Pep Guardiola

Celtics

Mazzulla defined that he requested the Manchester Metropolis supervisor for recommendation about successful forward of the 2024 NBA Finals.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola have developed a private {and professional} relationship during the last yr.

Mazzulla visited Manchester Metropolis FC final February throughout the NBA’s All-Star break; since then, the pair have grown shut.

Guardiola attended Recreation 1 of the NBA Finals between Boston and the Dallas Mavericks at TD Backyard in June. Each coaches have been seen talking collectively at mid-court earlier than the sport, which the Celtics gained 107-89. Guardiola sat courtside for the competition, sporting a Celtics shirt.

Mazzulla didn’t go into a lot element concerning the dialog and their friendship on the time, however it was clear that the Boston coach was studying from the soccer teaching legend.

Showing on an episode of the “Males In Blazers” podcast with Roger Bennett, Mazzulla spoke at size about what Guardiola has meant to him not simply as a coach, but in addition as a human off the court docket.

“I believe you must have folks in the identical world as you you could depend on and speak to about different issues moreover [coaching],” Mazzulla stated. “Our relationship has transitioned from extra soccer to, ‘How are you doing as an individual? How are you doing as a pacesetter? How your loved ones is doing,’ stuff like that.”

Mazzulla defined that they aren’t in fixed contact throughout the season, however they do communicate a couple of times a month.

Why did Mazzulla wish to attain out to Guardiola within the first place? He stated he was fascinated by the supervisor’s teaching philosophy and the successful he’s skilled abroad.

“I’m nothing to the place he’s as a supervisor … He, tactically, is great. He can handle expertise and he can develop expertise,” Mazzulla stated. “I believe if you’re having a look at a number of the finest coaches of all time, they don’t essentially have a weak spot. They’re in a position to be nice in a number of areas.

“… So simply finding out his sustained success, finding out how he has change into so well-rounded in all areas. It was simply anyone that I felt like that might actually assist me, and so I admire his humility. He’s helped me a lot in simply all three of these areas. It’s been a enjoyable journey rising a relationship with him.”

Mazzulla additionally drew comparisons between himself and Guardiola after they every started their skilled teaching careers. Guardiola was main Barcelona’s B group whereas Mazzulla was teaching the Celtics’ G-League group earlier than their organizational promotions.

That, Mazzulla stated, made him wish to be taught extra about Guardiola’s rise to greatness.

“That’s once I actually began to dive into Pep. Like, what’s the psychology of taking on such a high-level model? What’s the psychology of constructing your teaching identification? How do you deal with success immediately?” he stated. “And so it grew to become a highway map to how I wish to go about constructing a tradition, a group, and taking on greatness, so to talk.”

Mazzulla went into element concerning the recommendation Guardiola gave him coming into final yr’s NBA Finals. He stated he requested him varied questions on attaining and managing success.

“I believe if you’re on the trail in direction of making an attempt to go after one thing, it’s essential to normalize greatness. So the most important factor I wished to take from him was like, ‘What’s it like earlier than you win as a coach, as a pacesetter?” Mazzulla stated. “What’s it like after you win? What are the challenges that include successful the primary one?’ Since you’re not a winner till you win.

“I wished to return and say, ‘OK, what have been you want earlier than you gained? What have been you want in that house? Did you imagine in your self? Did you could have doubts? Had been you nervous? Had been you labored up? What did you inform your group?’ … Like, ‘OK, if you happen to’re going to do that for a very long time, right here’s what to anticipate, right here’s adapt, and right here’s how to have a look at it.’ Simply superb perspective from that standpoint.”