The Denver Nuggets continue to make headlines. After making an early splash in the ongoing NBA free agency by shipping Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson, they later brought back veteran guard Bruce Brown Jr. on a minimum contract.
They followed it up by signing former Dallas Mavericks guard, NBA champion, and later player development coach as an assistant coach under Nuggets coach David Adelman. The move comes in as a way to add more experience alongside Adelman, who replaced Michael Malone last season.
J.J. Barea Set to Work With Denver Nuggets as Assistant Coach
NBA insider Shams Charania tweeted the news of the Nuggets’ latest hire.
“JJ Barea, a 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks, has agreed to join the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach under David Adelman, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote. “Barea will be on the front of the Nuggets coaching bench.”
JJ Barea, a 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks, has agreed to join the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach under David Adelman, sources tell ESPN. Barea will be on the front of the Nuggets coaching bench.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
Barea also coached in his native Puerto Rico. Per RealGM, Denver is also rumored to be interested in former NBA champ and current Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley for their coaching staff.
Earlier, league insider Marc Stein was the first to report on the Western Conference outfit’s interest in the former player. He was coaching the Guaynabo Mets before he was shown the door in May. He played for 14 seasons in the NBA, spending the majority of his career in Dallas, with whom he won a championship in 2011.
Barea is known for his excellent communication skills and a great rapport with players. His basketball acumen further makes him a solid candidate for the position. In related news, Dudley, Jason Kidd’s third assistant, is the other name expected to be on the coach’s bench this season. He has already been on the radar of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Memphis Grizzlies. However, there have been no concrete developments through the end of June.
MORE: NBA Free Agency Tracker 2025
The Nuggets were a title contender last season but were eliminated in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who went on to win their maiden championship.
The Nuggets are now two seasons removed from a title. The objective now is for Denver to add the right pieces around franchise cornerstone Nikola Jokic and guard Jamal Murray to win another ring.
