DENVER (KDVR) — The front of the Denver Nuggets' bench will look different this upcoming season, with an NBA champion as the new assistant coach behind head coach David Adelman.

The Nuggets have been shifting leadership after firing former head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just before the playoffs. Adelman, the lead assistant coach at the time, took over as interim head coach through the end of the season, until he was officially announced as the full-time head coach in May.

Adelman's upgrade left the assistant coach position open, but it didn't stay that way for long. Now, he also has a new right-hand man.

On Tuesday morning, Shams Charania, a senior NBA insider with ESPN, reported that sources said J.J. Barea agreed to join the Nuggets staff as an assistant coach.

Barea, a Northeastern University alum, spent over 10 years in the NBA, starting in 2006 with the Dallas Mavericks. He claimed the NBA champion title with the Mavericks in 2011 — guarding LeBron James as a key part in winning the whole thing — before moving to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Barea ended his playing career in 2020 with the Mavericks, but his basketball days weren't completely over. Sports Illustrated said Barea took over as head coach of a few teams in Puerto Rico, as well as joining as a player development coach with the Mavericks in 2021.

Now, Adelman and Barea will be on the front of the Nuggets coaching bench for this upcoming season.