“I study Pep a lot. It’s had a huge influence (on me)… I think where basketball and soccer are the same is the transition is happening so fast,” said Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla once. In the world of sports, it isn’t that uncommon for coaches and players to develop friendships with those belonging to another field. Joe Mazzulla and Pep Guardiola, one of the most decorated managers in the field of soccer, have done the same. From the NBA coach visiting Manchester City FC last February during the NBA’s All-Star break, to Guardiola attending Game 1 of the NBA Finals between Boston and the Dallas Mavericks, the mutual respect the two sports officials hold for each other is quite prominently on display. This is why, when Mazzulla received some good news recently, Guardiola was amongst the biggest names to mark the moment.
Renowned NBA reporter Marc Stein was recently able to engage the football manager in a Q&A session. During the same time, Pep Guardiola went on to say that “The NBA has always been important in my life.” He also reportedly praised Boston for extending the contract of Joe Mazzulla by saying, “I love it”.
Pep Guardiola: “The NBA has always been important in my life.”
Also in Palermo tonight: City’s boss lauded Boston for extending the contract of friend Joe Mazzulla — “I love it” — and named Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić and LeBron James as his favorite modern players post-MJ. https://t.co/filkN3zhmD
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 10, 2025
This is a developing story.
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