Joe Mazzulla’s shut relationship with Manchester Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola has been chronicled a number of instances lately. However, Mazzulla shared extra about his friendship with the famend soccer coach than ever earlier than in a current episode of the “Males In Blazers” podcast.
The 34-year-old Celtics head coach revealed that he first reached out to Guardiola just a few years again.
“We share an analogous starting,” Mazzulla mentioned on the podcast. “He was teaching Barcelona’s B group; I used to be in Maine’s G League group. They may have simply gone for an even bigger identify, however they go to this man sitting on the again bench with no expertise.”
Mazzulla, after all, is referring to the truth that President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ entrance workplace chosen him to be the Celtics’ interim head coach after Ime Udoka was suspended in 2023, regardless of having far much less expertise than different potential candidates. Guardiola was picked to be head coach fifteen years in the past, changing then-head coach Frank Rijkaard.
At this time, Mazzulla is contemporary off his first NBA title with the Celtics. Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis group has gained 4 straight Premier League titles.
Nonetheless, because the Celtics look to turn out to be the primary group to win back-to-back championships for the reason that 2017 Golden State Warriors, Mazzulla is absorbing all he can.
“The largest factor I needed to take from him was: What’s it like earlier than you win? What are the challenges that include successful the primary one? And what are you want now that you simply’ve gained,” Mazzulla mentioned.
“He has seen all these steps, and it simply offers you nice perspective as to: Okay, should you’re gonna do that for a very long time, right here’s what to anticipate, right here’s adapt, and right here’s how to take a look at it.”
Mazzulla mentioned as he’s gotten to know Guardiola over time, he’s been impressed together with his general skillset.
“He can handle expertise, and he can develop expertise,” he mentioned. “While you’re having a look at a few of the finest coaches of all time, they don’t essentially have a weak spot. They’re in a position to be nice within the a number of areas of teaching.”
Mazzulla additionally mentioned that along with managing his group’s starters, Guardiola has taught him higher incorporate function gamers,
“His capability to take different guys and match them into a task to the place they’re simply as essential as their finest gamers, he has that well-roundedness, and that’s one thing that I believed that I might actually be taught from,” he mentioned. “So, I respect his humility, and he’s helped me a lot in all three of these areas. It’s been a enjoyable journey. He’s helped me a lot.”
Joe Mazzulla is drawing from soccer
It’s no secret that Mazzulla attracts from different sports activities with regards to scheming for basketball video games. The Celtics coach has introduced up soccer and soccer on a number of events on the podium earlier than and after video games, and he’s facilitated video games of pickleball, frisbee, flag soccer, and different sports activities at Celtics practices this season.
Within the interview with Roger Bennett, Mazzulla shared simply how he believes the trendy NBA has much more parallels to soccer than earlier than.
“One of many issues we’re engaged on now could be groups are enjoying extra zone protection within the NBA,” Mazzulla mentioned. “What you see in basketball is the timing of your cuts are at all times off. And that’s the distinction between soccer and basketball. In basketball, you see a whole lot of guys reduce both earlier than the man who has the ball sees you, otherwise you do it too late. And so, the timing of your cuts in zone is similar to the timing of your runs in soccer to create that area. That’s an enormous factor that I’m at all times taking a look at.”
“Once I take a look at our roster, I take a look at a soccer group, as a result of we have now a lot expertise and skill at each place — how do you maximize that?” Mazzulla continued. “It’s a fantastic approach to disperse your expertise and make all people simply as essential. I feel that’s the place the actual connection comes from.”
