# J. J. Barea

**J. J. Barea** (José Juan Barea Mora, born 1984 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican former professional basketball player, a 5-foot-10 point guard who played 14 NBA seasons, won the 2011 championship with the [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.edgepedia.org/dallas-mavericks), and became an assistant coach with the [Denver Nuggets](https://www.edgepedia.org/denver-nuggets) in 2025.<sup>[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bareajo01.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://nbacoaches.com/jj-barea/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name, born | José Juan Barea Mora; 1984, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico<sup>[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bareajo01.html)</sup> |
| Physical profile | 5'10" (1.78 m), 180 lb (82 kg)<sup>[3](https://www.nba.com/player/200826/jj-barea)</sup> |
| NBA entry | Undrafted out of Northeastern University in 2006; NBA debut November 4, 2006<sup>[1](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bareajo01.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup>  |
| NBA teams | Dallas Mavericks 2006–11 and 2014–20; Minnesota Timberwolves 2011–14<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup> |
| Career totals | 8.9 points and 3.9 assists per game in 831 games<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup> |
| Championship | 2011 NBA title with Dallas; started Game 4 of the Finals against Miami<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup> |
| College scoring | Northeastern's second all-time leading scorer, 2,209 points behind Reggie Lewis (2,708)<sup>[5](https://www.mavs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-20-Dallas-Mavericks-Media-Guide.pdf)</sup> |
| Coaching | Mavericks development coach in 2021; Denver Nuggets assistant coach from 2025 under David Adelman<sup>[6](https://www.nba.com/mavs/bareawantstocoach)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://nbacoaches.com/jj-barea/)</sup>  |

## Early life and college

Barea was born and raised in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, attended Miami Christian High School in Miami, Florida, and played college basketball at [Northeastern University](https://www.edgepedia.org/northeastern-university) in Boston.<sup>[5](https://www.mavs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-20-Dallas-Mavericks-Media-Guide.pdf)</sup> He finished his college career as the school's second all-time leading scorer with 2,209 points, behind only [Reggie Lewis](https://www.edgepedia.org/reggie-lewis)'s 2,708, and was named First Team All-AEC.<sup>[5](https://www.mavs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-20-Dallas-Mavericks-Media-Guide.pdf)</sup> Before his NBA career he began playing professionally for Indios de Mayagüez of Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) in 2001.<sup>[7](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jj-barea-2775)</sup>

## NBA career

**Dallas, 2006–2011.** No team drafted Barea in 2006, and he made the Dallas roster as an undrafted free agent.<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup> He spent his first five seasons with the Mavericks, wearing number 11 before switching to number 5 on his return.<sup>[8](https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612742/2025/09/2024-25-Dallas-Mavericks-Media-Guide-2_compressed.pdf)</sup> His role was a play-making reserve who could spread the floor, penetrate, and run the offense in stretches.<sup>[9](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2011/8/31/2395905/j-j-barea-and-misconceptions)</sup>

**The 2011 championship.** In the 2011 [NBA Finals](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-finals) against Miami, coach [Rick Carlisle](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-carlisle) made Barea a starter beginning in Game 4, and the Mavericks won three straight games to take the title.<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup> Across the six-game series he averaged 8.8 points, started three games, and scored 17 and 15 points in the final two.<sup>[10](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-mavericks-2006-2011-dirk-nowtzki-del-averno-a-la-luz-n/)</sup> In the clinching stretch he hit 4 of 5 three-pointers in Game 5 and scored 15 points in Game 6.<sup>[11](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wolves-plan-to-give-j-j-barea-more-defined-role)</sup>

**Minnesota, 2011–2014.** After the championship Barea signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-timberwolves), the biggest deal of his career.<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup> He was used as a scoring point guard alongside [Ricky Rubio](https://www.edgepedia.org/ricky-rubio), and in 2012–13 he was the best three-point shooter on the team at 1.3 made threes per game.<sup>[11](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wolves-plan-to-give-j-j-barea-more-defined-role)</sup> The Timberwolves bought out his contract after three years.<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup>

**Return to Dallas, 2014–2020.** Barea rejoined the Mavericks in 2014 and became a mainstay of one of the league's most productive benches.<sup>[12](https://api-hub.nba.com/news/qa-jj-barea-dallas-mavericks)</sup> In his five seasons from 2014 through 2019 he averaged 10.2 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 35.4 percent from three-point range.<sup>[13](https://www.nba.com/mavs/from-undrafted-to-champion-to-stand-out-veteran-j-j-barea-continues-to-amaze)</sup> At age 34, in 2018–19, he set career highs per game in points, assists, rebounds, and steals.<sup>[14](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2018/10/10/17955430/dallas-mavericks-j-j-barea-player-season-preview-2018)</sup> A ruptured [Achilles tendon](https://www.edgepedia.org/achilles-tendon) in January 2019 cost him the rest of that season, and he returned for a final 2019–20 campaign in which he played 36 games.<sup>[15](https://www.nba.com/mavs/j-j-barea-strong-comeback-in-the-works-talks-extensively-about-his-injury)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.nba.com/player/200826/jj-barea)</sup>

**Release.** Dallas released Barea on December 10, 2020, cutting the last remaining member of the 2011 championship team to give the 36-year-old a chance to continue his career elsewhere; his one-year deal carried $2.6 million guaranteed, and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson described the signing as a reward for his contributions to the franchise.<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup>

## Playing style

Barea's game was built around his size disadvantage. At 5'10" he played point guard exclusively, the only position his frame allowed, and relied on physicality, a strong handle, and fearlessness driving into the paint against much larger defenders.<sup>[16](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/barea-knows-his-role-and-plays-it-well)</sup> He functioned as an offense manager and shot chooser capable of an occasional big scoring burst, and he was a frequent pick-and-roll threat.<sup>[11](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wolves-plan-to-give-j-j-barea-more-defined-role)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[17](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2016/11/16/13646416/the-mavericks-would-be-even-more-doomed-without-j-j-barea)</sup>  Scouts and analysts commonly used him as the comparison for small, play-making reserve guards, describing him as a play-making offensive spark plug off the bench.<sup>[18](https://walterfootball.com/nbascoutingreport2014snapier.php)</sup>

## International play and Puerto Rico

Barea played for the Puerto Rican national team. In 2011 he earned MVP honors in the Tuto Marchand Cup, then averaged 14 points and a team-high 3.8 assists as Puerto Rico finished second in the FIBA Americas Championship.<sup>[11](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wolves-plan-to-give-j-j-barea-more-defined-role)</sup> He also played professionally in Puerto Rico and in Spain, joining Movistar Estudiantes of the Spanish ACB after the [2019–20 NBA season](https://www.edgepedia.org/2019-20-nba-season).<sup>[2](https://nbacoaches.com/jj-barea/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[19](https://as.com/us/baloncesto/jj-barea-se-une-a-los-denver-nuggets-como-entrenador-asistente-n/)</sup>

## Coaching career

After retiring, Barea worked as a development coach for the Mavericks in 2021, but the team did not promote him to an assistant role and the relationship ended after that year.<sup>[6](https://www.nba.com/mavs/bareawantstocoach)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[19](https://as.com/us/baloncesto/jj-barea-se-une-a-los-denver-nuggets-como-entrenador-asistente-n/)</sup>  In 2025 he became an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets under head coach David Adelman.<sup>[2](https://nbacoaches.com/jj-barea/)</sup>

## Legacy in Dallas

Barea played 11 of his 14 NBA seasons with Dallas and is regarded as one of the most popular players in the franchise's history.<sup>[4](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.nba.com/mavs/bareawantstocoach)</sup>  Carlisle called him "our last vestige" from the 2011 title team, and he mentored Luka Doncic, communicating with the Slovenian star in Spanish.<sup>[20](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28270633/how-dallas-mavericks-veteran-jj-barea-uses-spanish-connection-experience-mentor-luka-doncic)</sup> His path from an undrafted 5'10" guard to a Finals-starting champion made him a recurring reference point for undersized prospects.<sup>[13](https://www.nba.com/mavs/from-undrafted-to-champion-to-stand-out-veteran-j-j-barea-continues-to-amaze)</sup>

## References

1. [J.J. Barea Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status, Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bareajo01.html)
2. [JJ Barea, NBA Coaches Association](https://nbacoaches.com/jj-barea/)
3. [J.J. Barea player page, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/player/200826/jj-barea)
4. [J.J. Barea says it's a 'tough day' after release from Mavericks, NBA.com (AP), December 10, 2020](https://www.nba.com/news/j-j-barea-says-its-a-tough-day-after-release-from-mavericks)
5. [2019-20 Dallas Mavericks Media Guide](https://www.mavs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-20-Dallas-Mavericks-Media-Guide.pdf)
6. [J.J. Barea has sights set on NBA coaching career, Dallas Mavericks](https://www.nba.com/mavs/bareawantstocoach)
7. [J.J. Barea NBA Stats & News, RotoWire](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jj-barea-2775)
8. [2024-25 Dallas Mavericks Media Guide](https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612742/2025/09/2024-25-Dallas-Mavericks-Media-Guide-2_compressed.pdf)
9. [J.J. Barea and Misconceptions, Mavs Moneyball](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2011/8/31/2395905/j-j-barea-and-misconceptions)
10. [Los Mavericks 2006-2011, AS.com](https://as.com/baloncesto/nba/los-mavericks-2006-2011-dirk-nowtzki-del-averno-a-la-luz-n/)
11. [Wolves plan to give J.J. Barea more defined role, FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/wolves-plan-to-give-j-j-barea-more-defined-role)
12. [The Q&A: J.J. Barea on twilight of his career, NBA.com](https://api-hub.nba.com/news/qa-jj-barea-dallas-mavericks)
13. [From undrafted to champion to stand-out veteran, Dallas Mavericks](https://www.nba.com/mavs/from-undrafted-to-champion-to-stand-out-veteran-j-j-barea-continues-to-amaze)
14. [Will this be J.J. Barea's last season in Dallas?, Mavs Moneyball](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2018/10/10/17955430/dallas-mavericks-j-j-barea-player-season-preview-2018)
15. [J.J. Barea, strong comeback in the works, Dallas Mavericks](https://www.nba.com/mavs/j-j-barea-strong-comeback-in-the-works-talks-extensively-about-his-injury)
16. [Barea knows his role and plays it well, FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/barea-knows-his-role-and-plays-it-well)
17. [The Mavericks would be even more doomed without J.J. Barea, Mavs Moneyball](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2016/11/16/13646416/the-mavericks-would-be-even-more-doomed-without-j-j-barea)
18. [2014 NBA Draft Scouting Report: Shabazz Napier, WalterFootball](https://walterfootball.com/nbascoutingreport2014snapier.php)
19. [J.J. Barea se une a los Denver Nuggets como entrenador asistente, AS.com](https://as.com/us/baloncesto/jj-barea-se-une-a-los-denver-nuggets-como-entrenador-asistente-n/)
20. [How Dallas Mavericks veteran J.J. Barea uses Spanish connection to mentor Luka Doncic, ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28270633/how-dallas-mavericks-veteran-jj-barea-uses-spanish-connection-experience-mentor-luka-doncic)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1996–2010 › NBA guards, 1996–2010*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license