CONFIRMADO: Novio de Zuleyka Rivera (Ex Miss Universo)

Meet Dallas Mavericks' backup point guard J.J. Barea's girlfriend: 2006 Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera

By Nina Mandell
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, March 31st 2011, 5:25 PM

Jean/Getty;Sullivan/AP

Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea is dating a former Miss Universe.

He may be Jason Kidd's backup, but J.J. Barea is the envy of the Dallas Mavericks' locker room.

The 26-year-old confirmed long-reported rumors on Wednesday that he’s dating Zuleyka Rivera - also known as the 2006 Miss Universe.

The two, who are both from Puerto Rico, met at events in their home country but got together after Barea heard her status had changed to single, he told ESPN.com.

Then according to the website, he sent her a text message and eventually went on a date.

"It was an awesome first date," he told the website. "We took a private boat in Miami Beach and then went to a restaurant and hung out. Then I had to go to Dallas the next day."

The two are hardly secretive about their love.

On Wednesday night, Rivera tweeted her pride in Barea's game - whjen he had 22 points and 6 assists. He then tweeted back at Rivera "Gracias muneka que duermas bien" which translates into "Thanks darling, sleep well."

The two are hardly the only made-for-TV story in the NBA. Kris Humphries is dating reality star Kim Kardashian, Tony Parker recently divorced Eva Longoria and Lamar Odom is married to Khloe Kardashian

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