Shortly before retiring from a 14-year NBA career in 2019, point guard J.J. Barea moved back to his native Puerto Rico to be the head coach of the Indios de Mayagüez in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He spent a brief stint as a Dallas Mavericks player development coach before returning to Puerto Rico in 2023 to coach the Mets de Guaynabo.

Barea has remained a fan-favorite among the Mavericks, but he should be a strong addition to the Denver Nuggets' coaching staff with first-time head coach David Adelman. He'll also get a chance to watch and coach three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, which will be an invaluable experience.

The Denver Nuggets reportedly agreed to terms with a well-known guard on the second day of free agency, although he will wear a suit and tie on game days instead of a jersey. According to ESPN, former Dallas Mavericks point guard J.