Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is detailed information about basketballer JJ Barea:

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: José Juan Barea Mora
  • Nationality: Puerto Rican
  • Date of Birth: June 26, 1984
  • Hometown: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
  • Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
  • Weight: 180 pounds (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 9 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • Position: Point Guard
  • Jersey Number: 11 (primarily with Dallas Mavericks)
  • High School:
    • Attended Miami Christian School in Miami, Florida.
  • College:
    • Played at Northeastern University (2002–2006).
    • Averaged 21.0 points and 8.4 assists per game in his senior year, earning multiple honors.
  • NBA Draft:
    • Undrafted in 2006. Later signed with the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent.
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Dallas Mavericks (2006–2011)
    2. Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2014)
    3. Dallas Mavericks (2014–2020): Returned to Dallas and remained until his retirement.
    4. Played briefly overseas in Spain for Movistar Estudiantes (2020–2021).
  • Championship Rings:
    • 1 (2011): Key contributor in the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Championship win over the Miami Heat.

Personal Life:

  • Children:
    • JJ Barea has two children: Sebastián José Barea Vega (son) and Paulina Barea Vega (daughter).
  • Siblings:
    • Has a brother and a sister, but specific names and details are not widely publicized.

Notable Achievements and Legacy:

  • Despite being undersized, Barea is known for his fearless play, high basketball IQ, and ability to score against taller defenders.
  • Played a pivotal role in the Mavericks’ 2011 championship run, especially in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
  • Post-retirement, Barea has been involved in coaching and player development.

Player Archetype / Play Style

J.J. Barea was an undersized change-of-pace point guard and bench sparkplug whose game revolved around penetration, pick-and-roll creation, and competitive toughness. Defensively, his role was shaped by effort and positioning more than size, with teams asking him to pressure the ball, fight through actions, and survive through energy despite the obvious matchup challenges that came with standing around 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds. Offensively, he was at his best as a live-dribble creator who could bend defenses, get into the paint, feed rollers, collapse help, and chip in timely scoring as a secondary playmaker or instant-offense guard rather than a full-time lead engine. Physically, Barea lacked prototypical NBA size, but he compensated with quickness, balance, burst, and the fearlessness to attack bigger defenders in traffic. Altogether, his style was that of a pesky, inventive floor general who changed tempo, lifted second units, and consistently gave teams playmaking and edge far beyond what his frame suggested. (Basketball Reference)

Basketball-Reference — J.J. Barea Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and …
NBA.com — J.J. Barea | Guard | Dallas Mavericks
NBA.com — The Q&A: J.J. Barea on twilight of his career, playing with Dirk Nowitzki and more
NBA.com — Barea brings control, explosiveness off the bench
NBA.com — From undrafted to champion to stand-out veteran, J.J. Barea continues to amaze