Barea has his annual basketball camp for kids on July 1, before the expected birth of their son, and his charity golf tournament is in Puerto Rico in early August. Also, it’s still possible Barea could be involved with the Puerto Rico national team in the basketball world cup. “I 100 percent want to do it,” Barea said. “It’s a possibility. A couple weeks before, I’ll decide. It’s going to be hard to do, but I don’t want to close the door on it. My doctors say I should be able to do whatever I want on the court by August.”
Puerto Rico Rumors
Tim MacMahon: J.J. Barea hopes to play for Puerto Rico in the World Cup, which begins Aug. 31, less than eight months after he ruptured his right Achilles’ tendon. “The way I feel right now, it looks pretty good,” Barea told ESPN. “But I’m not going to make a decision until it gets closer.”
After spending the last 14 years in the NBA, pouring his all into the game he loves, it was time to make room for something else. “The straw that broke the camel’s back, I was on vacation,” Frye said. “I went to Puerto Rico with my kids and I saw our best friends who live down there and their kids are 12, 11, 10. My son is eight now. I’m like, ‘I want to go his practice and not have to worry about my practice.’ I want to make time for them. “What some of these young fellas don’t understand is your whole life is on a selfish bubble, what’s best for you, what you want to do. For me it took a while, but my dad instinct, and my husband and family guy kicked in. What can I do for my family? Money is awesome, but at this point I’ve had enough people either die or go away through relationships that couldn’t get kept up. That’s what’s most important, making something outside of basketball.”
Barea expects to start light rehabilitation next week and he already has been overwhelmed by the support he’s received from fans locally and abroad. “I got messages from other head coaches, from (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver, a lot of players,” he said. “And in Puerto Rico, it’s insane. People were praying for me every day. This never happened to me before. The support you get, it’s been crazy. And it’s special.”
For Puerto Rico, an association with Anthony, 34, and its national team could go a long way for the beleaguered island. Officials want Anthony to know: There’s an open invitation. “With his connection to Puerto Rico, his NBA stardom and his experiences, our fans would love it,” said Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea, who has been a cornerstone of the national team and a tireless advocate in Puerto Rico’s relief efforts. “We tried a bunch to get him in the past, but of course nobody blamed him for playing for Team USA. But if he ever wants a chance to represent us, it would be awesome to have him.”
