Thanks to a torn Achilles injury, J.J. Barea’s season is over. The Dallas Mavericks’ veteran point guard tore his tendon late in Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. An MRI Saturday confirmed the injury and that he’ll miss the rest of the NBA season.
Barea finished Friday’s game with 16 points and seven assists but suffered the injury with 6:28 left in regulation as he cut to the basket for a layup. He went down immediately and was helped back to the locker room not to return. The loss will come as very bad news for the Mavericks who because of this injury, have likely seen the end of the Barea-Nowitzki 2-man game. Barea was the only player in NBA history to average 10-plus points and 5-plus assists per game in less than 20 minutes per game for a season.
Prayers up for JJ Barea. #Mavshttps://t.co/KRTeOjnWLy
— Mavs Nation (@MavsNationCP) January 12, 2019
Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Barea would undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury but it is speculated the news is not good. In fact, some are wondering if this might mean the end of Barea’s career. While the Mavericks reportedly fear a torn Achilles, the team categorized Barea’s injury as a “lower right leg injury.”
Barea's injury for now only being described as "right lower leg injury."
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 12, 2019
The 34-year-old is in his 13th NBA season, averaging 10.9 PPG and 5.6 APG for Dallas. He’d re-signed as a free agent this past summer after becoming a fan favorite and having spent his entire career with the Mavericks after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He was an integral part of the Mavericks’ 2011 NBA championship-winning team.
Word was that Barea was interested in re-signing again with the Mavs this summer and trying to squeeze at least two more seasons out of his career, eventually retiring as a Mav. This injury puts that plan in jeopardy. At the very least, if he does return, next season it may be after the 2019-20 season gets underway.
Achilles tears are as tough to come back from as any injury in basketball but don’t count out Barea who has been beating the odds as an undrafted sub-6-footer, his entire 13-year NBA career.