Jose Alvarado & His Fiery Championship DNA
Paying homage to a one-of-one underdog & fan favorite who deserves the title of "Champion".
This past Winter, I was at the Suns-Pelicans game on December 28th.
The arena wasn’t at full capacity, the roster wasn’t at full strength, and the Pels entered the night with an 8-24 record.
It’s hard to expect anyone to battle at 100% when the stakes are low, the season looks pissed away, and the grind stretches over an arduous 82 games.
Nobody got that message through to Jose Alvarado.
Down four late in the 3rd quarter, Jose was in his normal routine, extending ball pressure past half-court and making his matchup, along with the screener on the play, Mark Williams, work.
Things got testy fast, and the result was fist to cuffs… between a barely 6-foot guard and a 7’1 giant.
I’m not here to glorify fighting, but being at the game that night left me with two clear takeaways:
- Jose Alvarado’s intensity level is cranked up to the maximum at all times.
- In my section, and you can faintly hear it on the broadcast amidst the pandemonium — the shorthanded crowd began chanting “Joseeee Jose Jose Joseeee… JOSEEEEEE.”
Jose was an undrafted rookie in 2021, and ever since he stepped foot on the wood in the 504, the fanbase has been enamored with him.
Like in Round 1 against the Phoenix Suns, as a rookie, Jose went toe to toe with Chris Paul, the Point God, former face of the franchise in New Orleans, and absolutely rattled him while electrifying the blender.
Quintessential Jose.
And all I, and many like me, could think about is — it’s a shame we haven’t given this type of competitor more chances to shine in the playoffs; that’s the type of player who deserves to partake in April-June basketball.
On the last day of the trade deadline this year, the Knicks granted him that opportunity.
New York receives:
- Jose Alvarado
New Orleans receives:
- Dalen Terry
- Two 2nd round picks (one being the 58th pick in this upcoming draft)
- Cash considerations
One of the most beloved players in the organization, traded for crumbs…
Honestly, when I read the news, it was a crushing blow.
And then I remembered all the times, as a fan, I wanted more for some players and felt bad that they were anchored to what seemed like a rudderless organization…
Jose was definitely towards the top of that list.
However, after thinking about it for a second, if I really appreciated him as a player, I’d realize he was more than worthy of playoff basketball and returning to his home city.
I set my selfish desires aside and was prepared for the Garden to be enthralled by the hustle, grit, and captivating play of Jose Alvarado — like all of New Orleans was.
So, back to my two takeaways from the December brawl, which matter even more when you consider their correlation.
Jose Alvarado’s basketball spirit — being the first player off the bench during a timeout for encouragement, being the ultimate spark plug in playstyle with his incessant energy — aren’t just pleasant anecdotes of his fan favorite status…
The reason behind his adoration is also his basketball superpower.
The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson.
This is why basketball and team sports in general are so lovable.
Everyone has a part to play, and to play it excellently.
Broadcasters like to say “Player X really stars in their role.” But with Jose Alvarado, it’s almost like he lives for it.
Outside the captivating, high-stakes basketball, my favorite part of the Finals was watching Jose stay exactly who he’s always been and succeed by doing so.
It wasn’t a moment here and a moment there that made this evident.
Jose sustained tremendous success with the Knicks throughout their playoff run.
All the advanced data would emphatically concur.
Around 150 playoff minutes, the Knicks were more potent offensively with Jose on the floor, getting to the rim more frequently, shooting more corner threes, and spacing the floor more proficiently, which was backed as evidenced by their efficient jump shooting.
I’d argue that he was the most proficient in getting KAT involved, and they ran a special two-man game for a majority of the run — and it extended into possessions in the NBA Finals.
I’d venture to say that Knicks super genius Shax would agree that nobody did a better job of getting KAT his touches than Jose Alvarado.
While raising their offensive level, Jose, of course, did his thing and brought the juice on the other side of the ball — increasing New York’s defensive turnover rate by 2.0%.
That small 2% would’ve actually been good for top-5 in the league as a regular-season impact metric.
If you look at the matchup data via databallr.com, Jose guarded up and down the lineup with big-time assignments like De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and even phenoms Dylan Harper and Wemby.
Those were matchups most fans and analysts would consider him outclassed in, and obviously outsized — yet Jose won them.
I could go on about the nuances of why he’s so effective for his team and will always be an invaluable piece to the puzzle.
There’s nothing that simplified it more than this:
Jose Alvarado played almost the entirety of the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, logging 9 minutes and 40 seconds of the 4th quarter — if spectators didn’t understand why he was in the game during the duration of history being made… he certainly proved it.
He went 3/3 from the field in the fourth, on 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. He appeared big in the box score and still showed up with his standard little things.
Some of these plays are insignificant to the naked eye, but all of these moments — being around the ball, finding a box out, making the right decision on offense — aren’t guaranteed even for the best players in the world.
Jose doesn’t miss those opportunities, and that’s why he got to partake in these high-leverage situations and this specific monumental comeback.
Not everyone can go out on the floor and consistently win their minutes. Jose Alvarado has practically done it his whole career, and the context of who he is and how he’s carried it out has been almost irreplicable.
Champion DNA from the start of it all… in his time with Georgia Tech as an ACC champ, to the cherished moments in New Orleans, and now with the Knicks, earning the ring to back what’s in his blood.
The fact that a written-off, undersized, undrafted, gritty New York point guard was one of the key components that clicked the NBA champions into place—and did so without changing a single thing—is one of the coolest stories to come out of the most monumental Titles in NBA history.
I had no choice but to pay homage to Jose Alvarado, who always has a home and something of a family among the people of New Orleans, and who deserves the title “Champion” as much as anyone.
For all things Pelicans, be sure to follow me on Twitter @giddhoops!
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