J.J. Barea has won the 2017-18 J. Walter Kennedy Award from the Professional Basketball Writers Association. The Dallas Mavericks guard received the honor, named after the NBA’s second commissioner and awarded annually to a player, coach, or trainer for outstanding service and dedication to the community, for his disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico. Barea is the first Maverick to win they award.
“J.J. Barea’s impassioned and tireless efforts to help the people of Puerto Rico are inspiring and should spur us all to contribute in our own communities,” PBWA President Josh Robbins said in a press release.