Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed profile of J.J. Barea:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: José Juan Barea Mora
  • Nationality: Puerto Rican
  • Age: Born June 26, 1984
  • Hometown: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
  • Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
  • Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 5 ft 11 in
  • Shoe Size: Size 10 (US)
  • Number: #5, #11
  • Position: Point Guard
  • High School: Miami Christian School, Miami, Florida
  • College: Northeastern University (2002–2006)
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft
  • Teams Played For:
    • Dallas Mavericks (2006–2011, 2014–2020)
    • Minnesota Timberwolves (2011–2014)
    • Cangrejeros de Santurce (Puerto Rico, 2021)
    • Movistar Estudiantes (Spain, 2021)
  • Championship Rings: 1× NBA Champion with the Dallas Mavericks (2011)
  • Kids:
    • He has two children: a son named Sebastián José and a daughter named Paulina.
  • Siblings: He has two siblings, one older brother, Jaime Barea, and a younger sister.

Player Archetype / Play Style

J.J. Barea’s player archetype was that of an undersized scoring playmaker, a jitterbug lead guard who used pace, craft, and sudden bursts to bend defenses despite giving away size. Offensively, he was at his best running pick-and-roll, getting two feet in the paint, creating passing angles on the move, and punishing teams that ducked under screens with timely outside shooting, which made him a dangerous bench spark and secondary organizer. Defensively, his role was more about competing at the point of attack, staying disruptive with quick hands, and surviving through effort and anticipation rather than length or switchability. Physically, Barea stood out for his compact 5-foot-10 frame, low center of gravity, sharp handle, and excellent change-of-speed ability, all of which helped him slip through traffic and stay balanced in tight spaces. His overall play style was built on energy, improvisation, and pressure creation, giving teams a fearless small guard who could speed up the game, manufacture offense, and swing momentum in short bursts.

Notes:

  • Similar players to J.J. Barea include Steve Nash.

Sources:
Basketball-Reference — J.J. Barea Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
NBA.com — J.J. Barea | Guard | Dallas Mavericks
ESPN — J.J. Barea Biography
ESPN — Inside the unique bond between Puerto Rico and native son J.J. Barea