José Juan (J.J.) Barea and the Guaynabo Mets of the Puerto Rican league Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) have reached an agreement to make him the team’s next head coach.
A Puerto Rico native and NBA champion, Barea announced his retirement from professional basketball last year as a member of the BSN’s Cangrejeros de Santurce, where he began his playing career in 2006. Barea then joined the Mavericks from 2006 – 2011 and again from 2014 – 2020, winning a title with the team in 2011. That same year, he also led the Puerto Rican national team to a gold medal at the Pan American games.
Barea was one of the most popular players in Dallas franchise history and the team hired him as a player development coach in 2021. He was previously hired as head coach of the Indios de Mayaguez in 2017 during the NBA offseason and before accepting the Mets head coaching job, served in the front office for the Grises de Humacao.
Mavs.com reported earlier this year that Barea had a coaching agent and was eager to begin the next step in his basketball journey. With his hiring by Guaynabo, Barea now has his wish—and the Mets have their man.
“J.J. is a legend in Puerto Rican basketball as a player and we believe he will add to his legacy as a coach,” said Mets co-owner Marc Grossman. “He was a leader on the court and has shown every indication of being able to lead a team off the court as well. His hiring is a major milestone for this franchise and J.J.’s coaching career.”
Barea assumes leadership of a Mets team that came up a game short of reaching the BSN finals this season, falling to eventual champions Carolina in a hard-fought seven game series. Over the last four seasons, Guaynabo has made the semifinals three times and the finals once.
“We all know that the BSN is an elite league that is gaining momentum. Being a leader in this league is not easy,” said José Juan Barea, “it is a brutal experience that will help me in the future. Nothing better than doing it in Puerto Rico with my family and my people”.
The BSN has seen growth in a Commonwealth that has traditionally embraced baseball as its favorite sport. High-profile signings of former NBA stars like DeMarcus Cousins, who joined Guaynabo as a free agent in April, have helped to bring greater exposure for the BSN outside Puerto Rico.
“Most U.S. fans don’t realize that the BSN is older than the NBA,” said Grossman. “A number of famous coaches and players have come through this league, which is getting increasing recognition as a top basketball destination. We hope that hiring J.J. will build on this trend and bring the BSN to a wider audience.”