"Never seen anyone play basketball better than that" - Pep Guardiola hails 2014 Spurs as his favorite team
There have been some iconic NBA teams over the years but it is the 2014 San Antonio Spurs that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola considers the best.
The Tim Duncan-led squad finished with a 62-20 record en route to the franchise's fifth championship. They ran into LeBron James' Miami Heat in the finals and were able to redeem themselves after losing the previous year.
A collection of several all-stars or their 'underdog' nature could be what fans root for in certain teams. However, the Spurs' unselfish playing style stood out to the Manchester City manager when asked which NBA team is his favorite, during his interview on Men in Blazers.
"I've never seen anyone play basketball better than that [2014] team," Guardiola said. "The last championship for the Spurs is the best ever. The choral movement of the ball, the not-completely unselfish ... now, hopefully, the Celtics with my friend Joe Mazzulla can continue the legacy."
There were previous championship teams who relied on the talent and production of their superstars to lead the way to an NBA title. While Guardiola's favorite Spurs team still had Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili on the team, they were already in the twilight years of their career.
They also had Kawhi Leonard at the time but he wasn't the two-way superstar that people recognize him for. Instead of focusing the offense on the four athletes, coach Greg Popovich preferred having everyone on the roster involved.
He successfully utilized the strengths and capabilities of the team's excellent depth to yield the best results in the postseason.
Manchester City manager 'hopeful' that current Boston Celtics team can continue the legacy of the 2014 Spurs
Aside from praising the 2014 Spurs, Guardiola also referred to the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics as the team he is "hopeful" to see following in the footsteps of his favorite team.
During the Celtics' 2024 championship run, some fans saw similarities in their style of play to the Spurs' last title team.
Their dedication to playing together, maximizing their spacing and staying connected defensively made them a tough matchup throughout the last postseason. They lost only three games, including in the NBA Finals, as the ball club consistently played with intent and determination.
During an NBA Finals press conference, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla credited the knowledge passed down by Guardiola during some of their conversations.
"He's a great person," Mazzulla said. "He's a great coach. It's just the humility, the work ethic, the intensity he brings. And we've developed a great relationship. I'm very grateful for him and I'd like to think we make each other better. ... It's awesome that he could share some of his wisdom with me and that I could spend time with him."
Before their dominant title run, the Celtics finished the regular season with a 64-18 record as the number one offensive team and the number two-ranked defensive unit.