Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla Trains MMA With Eric Nicksick
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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is more than just a fan of combat sports.
On Tuesday, Ariel Helwani dropped a clip of Mazzulla inside the cage at Xtreme Couture, training with longtime UFC coach Eric Nicksick. The footage shows the NBA champion coach working through striking drills on the pads and grappling exchanges on the mat.
Helwani, who interviewed Mazzulla after watching him train, emphasized that the Celtics coach is far from a casual observer of the sport.
“He’s clearly put in the work himself. Far more than just a fan of the sport,” Helwani wrote, while adding a playful Knicks-fan disclaimer before giving Mazzulla his respect.
During the conversation, Mazzulla explained how MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have influenced his approach to coaching. The discipline has helped him improve his communication during timeouts, manage high-pressure situations, and better understand the importance of staying composed during moments of adversity.
Mazzulla has trained in BJJ for years and returned to the discipline after becoming the Celtics’ head coach. He has often credited martial arts with strengthening his mental toughness and helping him build stronger connections with his players.
Through his relationship with Nicksick and other figures in the MMA community, Mazzulla has found a different perspective on coaching. Whether it’s communicating between rounds or helping athletes perform under pressure, he’s constantly looking for ideas that translate to basketball.
For Celtics fans, it offers another glimpse into the mindset behind the coach who guided Boston to an NBA championship. For fight fans, it’s a rare look at one of basketball’s brightest minds fully embracing the world of MMA.
The full interview with Joe Mazzulla is available on Ariel Helwani’s YouTube channel.
Joe Mazzulla’s Rise With the Celtics
Joe Mazzulla’s journey with the Boston Celtics has been anything but ordinary. After joining the organization as an assistant coach in 2019, Mazzulla quickly became a key part of the team’s coaching staff and culture.
Following the suspension of then-head coach Ime Udoka before the 2022-23 season, Joe Mazzulla stepped into the interim head coaching role at just 34 years old. He later earned the full-time position, becoming the youngest active head coach in the NBA at the time.
In his first season leading the team, Mazzulla guided Boston to a 57-25 record and the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed before falling to the Miami Heat in the conference finals. The following season, he took the Celtics to another level, leading them to a 64-18 record and the best record in the NBA during the 2023-24 regular season.
Boston’s dominant run continued into the playoffs, where Mazzulla guided the Celtics to their 18th NBA championship, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. The title marked the franchise’s first championship since 2008 and cemented Mazzulla’s place as one of the league’s top young coaches.
His success has often been tied to his unique leadership style, which emphasizes preparation, mental toughness, and adapting under pressure, qualities that align closely with the lessons he has taken from combat sports.
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