By Dwain Price | Dallas Mavericks
J. J. Barea is about to start his 14th season in the NBA, including his 11th with the Dallas Mavericks. The savvy veteran guard sat down with Mavs.com to discuss a variety of topics, including entering this season as the oldest player on the team for the first time in his illustrious career.
Mavs.com: The World Cup starts later this month. Earlier you talked about possibly playing for your native Puerto Rico. With you still trying to recover from Achilles tendon surgery, is that still on the table?
BAREA: I think I’ll be hooping and playing pickup basketball by then, but it’s too close, too risky. And then if I go over there I’m not going to be in basketball rhythm … I wasn’t going to play much either, so I’d rather give another kid from Puerto Rico that experience of going to the world championships and representing Puerto Rico. I’ve done it a bunch, and I’m still going to do it the next couple of summers. I’ve just got to make sure I’m ready and will have a good year and help this team out here in Dallas and go from there.
Q: You missed the final 40 games of last season after undergoing surgery on Jan. 15 to repair your ruptured right Achilles tendon. Are you going to be fully healthy and ready to go when training camp starts on Oct. 1?
BAREA: It’s looking like it, but me and coach (Rick Carlisle) and (head athletic trainer) Casey (Smith) are going to sit down and then make a plan. If we can wait a little bit longer, we’ll wait a little bit longer and it’ll be better when I come back. But it’s looking and it’s feeling like I’ll be ready to go for training camp, and that’s what I want. I want to be ready to go for training camp so I can do the whole training camp and go step-by-step after that.
Q: Is this going to be your last season playing, or have you mapped out yet when you plan to retire? Or is it too early to have that conversation?
BAREA: I still feel good, I still love to play the game. So I still want to play two or three more years, maybe four. But I want to go for two (more years). . .and then we’ll go from there.
Q: What are the prospects on the upcoming season for the Mavs with Kristap Porzingis joining Rookie of the Year winner Luka Doncic?
BAREA: I think we’ve got some more talent. We’ve got young talent, we’ve got some players that are excited to play basketball that haven’t played in a while. We always have a young great coaching staff, so I‘m excited. It’s going to be Luka’s second year. KP wants to play ball – he misses basketball. Dwight (Powell) and Maxi (Kleber) are going to be even better. So yeah, I’m excited about what this team can do.
Q: How do you think that dynamic combination of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis will work together?
BAREA: I like it. They’re both competitors with a lot of talent, and they’re young. And I know KP is itching (to play). He wants to get back on the floor. With him on the floor it’s going to help Luka out and give Luka a little bit more freedom where he doesn’t have to try to have the ball and try to do it all. So I think it’s a great combination and I think they’re going to enjoy playing with each other.
Q: Most of the elite teams in the Western Conference have two superstars. What does that say about the Mavs that they have at least two superstars-in-the-making in Doncic and Porzingis?
BAREA: We’ve definitely got two, and they’re young. KP is probably going to be a little bit rusty at the beginning, but if he’s halfway decent he’s going to help. And then by the end of the season he’ll be probably at his best basketball.
Q: At 35, you’re going to be the oldest player on the Mavs’ team this season. What significance does that carry for you, and does it come with any added burdens?
BAREA: I’m going to be the oldest guy on the team for the first time, so it’ll be fun and I’m excited. I’m going to talk more, I’m going to help these kids out a little bit more this year just by talking and keeping it positive. Hopefully it’s a good year.
Q: Do you feel like you have to be a team leader because you are the oldest player on the team and because of your close relationship with owner Mark Cuban, general manager Donnie Nelson and coach Rick Carlisle?
BAREA: Every year I get to be a little bit more of a leader. This year maybe more because I’ve been through it all and I feel comfortable on this team with coach and the relationship that I’ve got in this town and in this locker room. I can say whatever and I can help, and I don’t have to hold anything back. So that helps me a lot to be more of a leader. I’ve played 10 years under coach, I know exactly what he wants. I’ve got a great relationship with Mark and Donnie and the trainers. So yeah, they expect that from me and they expect my best examples.
Q: You’re from Puerto Rico, but what does it mean to you having played in the city of Dallas for 10 of your 13-year career?
BAREA: This city is amazing. It’s special for me and my family. I’m always going to keep my house here. I’m planning on living here even after basketball, and raise my kids here. It’s just special. It feels like home. I never thought another place would feel like home. Puerto Rico is always going to be home. . .but (Dallas) also, when I get here and I get to my house, it feels like home, so it’s special.
Q: I see you getting emotional, so why is Dallas so special to you?
BAREA: You can’t even plan on being in a city the way they treat me and my family around Dallas. Everywhere we go – hospitals, malls, restaurants — anything we need. The people that come over for service at the house. The cops. It’s special, man. We’re blessed to live in a city like this and the way that people treat us.
Q: This upcoming season will be your first time playing with the Mavs – and Dirk Nowitzki is not one of your teammates. Have you thought about what that’s going to be like?
BAREA: That’s going to be weird. We’ve always had Dirk to fall back on and to talk with, and to see him lead by example. Yeah, it’s definitely going to be weird. I haven’t thought about it that much. But not having him here in the locker room or working out like he always works out, it’s going to be different.
Q: Nowitzki was affectionately known for cracking a lot of jokes. Are you going to miss that, now that he has retired?
BAREA: It always was something, so I’m going to definitely miss that. But he’s always going to be my friend, so that’s a good thing.
Q: The Western Conference, as usual, is stacked with a lot of playoff-worthy teams. Will this be the year the Mavs qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-’16 season?
BAREA: There’s a chance. We know the West is tough, but that’s going to be a goal – make it to the playoffs. But the first goal we got to talk about is the first 20 games, the first 10 games. We’ve got to get off to a good start and get some rhythm and get some wins and then go from there. We can’t fall behind (early in the season) like the last couple of years, but this year I see it different. But yeah, be in the run for the playoffs the last month and give us a chance.
Q: Not much national headline news was given to the Mavs when they signed free agent center Boban Marjanovic last month. What’s your impression of the 7-3, 290-pounder?
BAREA: I was excited when we picked him up, especially with me a pick-and-roll guy. A guy like Boban with great hands, he can finish. He knows how to play the game. Everybody says he’s a great locker room guy, a great teammate, a great person, so I’m excited. I’m excited to play with him in practice and whip the starters’ butt. He’s going to definitely help.
Q: The Mavs will play a regular season game in Mexico City against the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 12. Since you’re one of the few players on the team who speak Spanish, what does this trip mean to you?
BAREA: I’ve been there twice already with Minnesota once and once with Dallas, and a couple of times with the (Puerto Rico) national team. Every time when we go it’s a great experience. They have great fans. I think it’s great that the NBA is doing this, and I think it’s going to be a great trip for the guys.
Q: Is there anything you can say to the Mavs’ fans to get them prepared for the upcoming season, which starts in a little over two months?
BAREA: Start picking it up. I know they’re excited about the talent we’ve got, the new kids, the young talent we’ve got. It’s going to be an exciting year, so get ready and let’s go.
