J.J. Barea feeling 'great' as he prepares for training camp

It’s been nine months sinceDallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea last played in an NBA game. A ruptured right Achilles has kept him sidelined since January. While his road to recovery has been long, Barea’s return to the court is drawing nearer according to him.

“I’m feeling great.” Barea said Sunday at the Dirk Nowitzki Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic. “I’m moving a little bit the last couple of weeks—started moving, playing a little basketball. So, we’ll see how it goes in tennis. I’m going to have to move a little slow this year, but just out here to have fun and have some good times.”

On January 11, in a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Barea came down clutching his right ankle after a layup. He was able to walk off the floor, but didn’t return to the game. An MRI later revealed that he sustained a torn Achilles tendon, ending the then 34-year-old veteran point guard’s season.

Prior to the injury, Barea was averaging 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists off the bench.

Next season will be his fourteenth as a professional and his tenth with the Mavericks. Dallas resigned Barea this summer to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract.

Barea recently began playing five-on-five games again and has been medically cleared for the start of training camp on October 1.