Former NBA champion to join Nuggets coaching staff

A popular former NBA champion has landed his first coaching job in the NBA.

Longtime Dallas Mavericks guard JJ Barea is joining David Adelman’s Denver Nuggets coaching staff, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Barea will have a notable role and will get the opportunity to sit on the front of Denver’s coaching bench.

Barea spent the bulk of his playing career with the Mavericks, where he was a key reserve for the 2011 title-winning squad. He last played in the NBA in 2020, when he voiced some frustration that he could not do more to contribute to the Mavs.

In a 14-year NBA career, Barea averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 assists per game, primarily as a sparkplug off the bench.

Barea has some previous coaching experience, including as a player development coach with the Mavericks. He has some head-coaching experience in Puerto Rico as well. The job with Denver will be the first time he gets the chance to work on an NBA bench in an active coaching role.