Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes there are
\ncorrelations between mixed martial arts and basketball.<\/p>\n
Mazzulla, who\u2019s attended several Joe Mazzulla uses MMA coaching practices in the NBA \u201cI think it just keeps you fresh, mentally and physically, so that Mazzulla is also taking specific inputs from Nicksick about \u201cThe thing that\u2019s interesting in the in-fight communication,\u201d It’s pretty remarkable that an NBA head “I think it just keeps you fresh, mentally and physically, so that \u2014 Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) I’ve never heard of a head coach seeking out “I think communication can be distracting. I ask @Eric_XCMMA<\/a> a \u2014 Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> events, was recently seen
\ntraining MMA with esteemed coach Eric Nicksick at
\nXtreme Couture<\/a> in Las Vegas. He has revealed that he looks up
\nMMA gyms to train at while traveling through different cities
\nduring the NBA season.<\/p>\n
\n
\nMazzulla believes MMA helps him build a fighter mentality, which is
\nrequired while taking on rival NBA teams in enemy territories.<\/p>\n
\nwhen I’m helping the team, I have a little bit of that fighter
\nmentality,\u201d Mazzulla told Ariel Helwani. \u201cIt just helps grow a
\nlittle bit of an edge, and every little bit helps.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ncommunicating with athletes. He believes there are similarities
\nbetween MMA and basketball in terms of coaches communicating with
\nthe players and is learning Nicksick\u2019s techniques of in-game
\ncommunication amidst all the chaos.<\/p>\n
\nMazzulla added. \u201cI think communication can be distracting. I ask
\nEric a lot about what his communication is during the round\u2026
\nThere’s a timeout component in communication, but also in-game
\ncommunication… I think one of the hardest things in coaching is
\nto relay, in a simple way, what you see to the players so that they
\ncan see it simply and execute. I think Eric does a great job of
\nthat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ncoach is going out of his way to find MMA gyms to train at while on
\nthe road during the season:<\/p>\n
\nwhen I’m helping the team, I have a little bit of that fighter
\nmentality. It\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QhDZmK1h8e<\/a><\/p>\n
\nJuly 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\nan MMA coach to learn about their communication strategy between
\nrounds and during a fight. Really insightful.<\/p>\n
\nlot about what his communication is during the round.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zsfp2p0I1t<\/a><\/p>\n
\nJuly 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n