Overview

• Guardiola made the remarks during a pre-season Q&A session in Palermo, Sicily, ahead of Manchester City’s friendly against Palermo.
• He expressed his support for the Celtics’ decision to extend Joe Mazzulla’s contract, saying “I love it.”
• He declared that “The NBA has always been important in my life,” underscoring basketball’s personal significance.
• He identified Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić and LeBron James as his favorite modern NBA players.
• The exchange highlights a long-standing friendship with Mazzulla and illustrates how basketball tactics on spacing and transition inspire his football philosophy.