Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday that he finds it hard to root against his look-alike, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Hillicon Valley: FBI, DHS warn that foreign hackers will likely spread disinformation around election results | Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day | Trump to meet with Republican state officials on tech liability shield Facebook takes down Chinese network targeting Philippines, Southeast Asia and the US MORE (D), in the 2020 presidential election.

"I've actually followed him pretty close, and I'll be real candid: I love a lot of his platforms. I'm a big fan of his," Stevens said on NBC Boston's radio show "Zolak & Bertrand."

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"I haven't endorsed anyone yet because I don't really get into the political stuff too much, but he's a hard one for me to root against. He's also rising pretty quickly."

Stevens, who is also from Indiana, acknowledged that he looks a lot like Buttigieg. The two are frequently compared on social media.

Buttigieg has formed an exploratory committee for the Democratic presidential nomination but has not officially declared his candidacy. He has been surging in polling of early states despite starting 2019 as a nearly unknown political candidate.

The Indiana mayor's campaign cleared the donations threshold to participate in presidential debates earlier this month.

Buttigieg's husband, Chasten, responded to Stevens on Wednesday by asking on Twitter: "When are you coming for dinner?"

When are you coming for dinner? https://t.co/ubaEgkymQt — Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) March 27, 2019

Buttigieg also responded, writing on Twitter "I mean…"

Buttigieg had previously acknowledged the two's resemblance, writing on Twitter in 2017 that he was asked about his resemblance to Stevens "a lot."



"I get this a lot, but if you ever saw me attempt to play basketball, the comparisons would end...." he quipped at the time.

I get this a lot, but if you ever saw me attempt to play basketball, the comparisons would end.... https://t.co/GPuuJlSAyV — Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) April 18, 2017

-Updated 4:30 p.m.