José Juan Barea

José Juan Barea is a Puerto Rican basketball coach and former player. He played in the National Basketball Association for the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, winning an NBA championship with the Mavericks in 2011.

Barea also played in the NBA Development League, Baloncesto Superior Nacional, and internationally for Estudiantes in Spain. He represented Puerto Rico’s national team in numerous competitions, earning multiple medals.

Player Profile and Personal Life

José Juan Barea Mora was born on June 26, 1984, in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. During his playing career, he was listed at 178 cm tall and weighed 186 lbs. While officially listed as 6 feet tall, Barea stated his true height is closer to 5 ft 10 in.

His parents are Marta Mora and Jaime Barea. He has two older brothers, Jaime and Jason. Barea has two children—one with Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera and another with Viviana Ortiz, whom he married in 2016.

Barea is known for his humanitarian work, especially his relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, which earned him the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and the Mannie Jackson Award for human spirit.

High School and College Career

Barea attended Academia de la Inmaculada Concepción in Mayagüez, then moved to Miami Christian School in Miami, Florida.

As a senior, he averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, leading his team to a state title. At Northeastern University from 2002 to 2006, Barea earned CAA Player of the Year honors (2006), was a two-time First-team All-America East selection, and finished as Northeastern’s second all-time leading scorer (2,209 points) and leader in assists (721).

Professional Career

After going undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft, Barea played for the Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico before joining the Dallas Mavericks in 2006.

He spent most of his career with Dallas, helping them win the 2011 NBA championship.

Barea played for the Fort Worth Flyers in the NBA Development League, Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2014), and returned to Dallas from 2014 to 2020. He then played with Estudiantes in Spain (2021) and returned to Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico until his retirement in 2022.

Coaching Career

Barea began his coaching career as head coach of Indios de Mayagüez (2017), served as a player development coach for the Dallas Mavericks (2021), and coached Mets de Guaynabo in 2024 and 2025. He became an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets in 2025.

Career Highlights

• 2011 – NBA champion
• 2008, 2016 – Centrobasket MVP
• 2006 – CAA Player of the Year
• 2006 – First-team All-CAA
• 2004, 2005 – First-team All-America East Conference
• 2003 – Third-team All-America East Conference
• 2003 – America East All-Rookie Team

Medal Record, Representing Puerto Rico

• 2006 – Gold – Central American and Caribbean Games
• 2010 – Gold – Central American and Caribbean Games
• 2007 – Silver – Pan American Games
• 2011 – Gold – Pan American Games