The 1985 Catholic Conference MVP and Boston Globe All Scholastic averaged over 30 points per game during his senior campaign in an era before the 3-point shot was implemented.

[3] The 5' 11" (1.80 m), 165 lb (75 kg) point guard, began his professional career in 1989 when he was selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 16th pick.

Two days later, Charlotte traded Barros, Sidney Green, and their 1993 draft choice, Greg Graham, to the Philadelphia 76ers for Hersey Hawkins.

Highlights included a 50-point, 8-rebound performance against the Houston Rockets in March 1995, and a 25-point, 10-rebound, 15-assist triple-double effort against the Orlando Magic a few weeks later.

Barros was selected to play in the 1995 NBA All-Star Game and at season's end was voted the league's Most Improved Player.

In the offseason of 2000, Barros was traded to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a four-team deal that also involved the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors.

For two months in 2006, Barros worked as an assistant coach for the Northeastern University men's basketball team, a position from which he resigned in June 2006 to accept a role as the Director of Recreation for the city of Boston.

He is also featured with fellow NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos and rappers Grand Puba, Sadat X, AG and Diamond D on a song "Ya Don't Stop".