Joe Mazzulla opens up about his relationship with Pep Guardiola

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 through the NBA’s All-Star break; since then, the pair have grown shut.

Guardiola attended Sport 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 in regards to the dialog and their friendship on the time, nevertheless 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 feel you must have folks in the identical world as you you can depend on and speak to about different issues in addition to [coaching],” Mazzulla stated. “Our relationship has transitioned from extra soccer to, ‘How are you doing as an individual? How are you doing as a frontrunner? How your loved ones is doing,’ stuff like that.”

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

Why did Mazzulla need to attain out to Guardiola within the first place? He stated he was fascinated by the supervisor’s teaching philosophy and the profitable 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 feel if you’re having a look at among the greatest coaches of all time, they don’t essentially have a weak spot. They’re capable of be nice in a number of areas.

“… So simply finding out his sustained success, finding out how he has grow to be so well-rounded in all areas. It was simply someone that I felt like that would 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 need to be taught extra about Guardiola’s rise to greatness.

“That’s after 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 straight away?” he stated. “And so it grew to become a street map to how I need to go about constructing a tradition, a group, and taking on greatness, so to talk.”

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

“I feel if you’re on the trail in the direction of making an attempt to go after one thing, it’s necessary 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 frontrunner?” Mazzulla stated. “What’s it like after you win? What are the challenges that include profitable 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 area? Did you imagine in your self? Did you have got doubts? Had been you nervous? Had been you labored up? What did you inform your group?’ … Like, ‘OK, should you’re going to do that for a very long time, right here’s what to anticipate, right here’s learn how to adapt, and right here’s how to have a look at it.’ Simply superb perspective from that standpoint.”