After 162 days, José Juan Barea will finally feel this “good ‘feeling” of playing basketball again.
The star Mayagüezano owner will make his debut tomorrow, Wednesday, in the Liga Endesa (or ACB) in Spain, when his new team Movistar Estudiantes against Casademont Zaragoza from 3:30 pm (Puerto Rico time).
Barea hasn’t played since last August 23 in five minutes and 11 seconds in the victory of his other team time, the Dallas Mavericks, against the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA playoff round.
“It’s a very different thing for me. But since I got here I’ve been treated spectacularly. We’ve practiced a lot and I’m doing super well. The practices are really good. I haven’t practiced like that in a long time. But nothing like playing.” expressed Barea from Madrid a the spokesman.
“It will be my first game in good weather, in a new league and with a different system … so let’s see. It’s been a long time (without playing). I feel until weird. I’m going to be until a little weird on Wednesday, but with a good ‘feeling’. I am very happy for the opportunity and the new experience, “he added.
Barea has not yet talked to Spanish leader Javier Zamora about whether he will start from the beginning in this first meeting.
But what he is sure of is that he will have many more minutes than he had with the Mavericks in the 2019-2020 season under the reigns of Rick Carlisle.
“I have no idea if I’m going to start. I guess. I haven’t talked that to the manager. I know I’m going to play a lot. Right now what I’m focused on is getting in shape doing a lot of reps and staying healthy. “, said Barea.
The Puerto Rican partridge was set to debut last Saturday, but the league postponed the match – the fifth since Estudiantes last played on December 29 – against Acunsa GBC, “due to health issues arising from the Covid-19 outbreak.” which affected the whole of Madrid.
Barea also took the opportunity to continue preparing for his debut.
“I knew about this issue (the Covid outbreak that was on the team) before I came here. I knew I was already going through the outbreak on the team, which is good for the future because already most ( of the players) have it (the virus antibodies) .But I didn’t mind them being suspended on Saturday because it gave me more practice days, ”he noted.
The captain of the Puerto Rican national team will play two matches – on February 7, against Real Madrid and on the 10th against Acunsa – before traveling to Puerto Rico to play the third and final qualifying window in the AmeriCup 2022 tournament on the 19th and 20th. .
“I would leave sometime after 10 and be in Puerto Rico like ten days and then come back,” Barea said.
After the break through the FIBA windows, Movistar Estudiantes will return to the track on February 27, when in front of Unicaja.
Students march 14 in the standings.