Photo Credit : Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
For most kids playing basketball in New York, the dream is to make it to the NBA and play in Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks. But reaching that stage takes hard work, determination, and leadership. You have to be willing to accept accountability and criticism for your performance. You must know how to perform under bright lights and in big moments. One player who fits that description is Jose Alvarado.
Photo Credit : William Thomas
Jose Alvarado grew up in Brooklyn in a Puerto Rican household, where he developed a passion for basketball. Growing up he was smaller than most people he played against, but he didn’t let that stop him from playing basketball. He averaged 17.9 points per game as a senior at Christ the King High School, recording a historic quadruple-double: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals. He was known for his leadership, his hustle, and his defense. Despite his phenomenal performances, scouts still viewed Alvarado as someone who wouldn’t succeed at a high level. Eventually, he committed to Georgia Tech and became one of the most popular players in college basketball.
Alvarado went on to play from 2017 to 2021 at Georgia Tech. He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and led the Yellow Jackets to their first ACC Championship in 28 years, along with an NCAA Tournament appearance that same season. Alvarado was a nightmare on defense, even creating his own signature move where he hid in the baseline corner while the opposing team brought the ball up the court. As the opposing ball-handler moved up the floor, Alvarado would sprint from behind and use his elite quickness to poke the ball loose.
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Alvarado ended up going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, but the New Orleans Pelicans signed him, where he spent his first few seasons there. When Miles McBride was ruled out indefinitely, the Knicks needed a point guard to step in, and Alvarado was the perfect option. The Knicks needed a guard who could defend opposing backcourts whenever Brunson was off the floor. Alvarado fit in perfectly with the Knicks, and all they gave up was Dalen Terry and two second-round picks.
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Alvarado quickly made an impact in his first game as a Knick, dropping 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block against the Celtics. He also made NBA history in his third game as a Knick, becoming the first player to record 26+ points, 8+ three-pointers, and 5+ steals off the bench. In the final games of the season, he was out of the rotation due to Miles McBride coming back from injury. However, he earned his minutes back just a few games into the playoffs. CJ McCollum was scoring well against the Knicks, so they inserted Jose Alvarado to guard him. He did such a great job that Mike Brown put him back into the rotation for defense and hustle.
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Now Alvarado will be playing in the NBA Finals for the team he grew up rooting for. For Knicks fans, Alvarado’s story feels very personal. He knows how much it means to bring a championship to New York City. He’s going to make sure to bring great energy, hustle, and effort every night he plays, even if it’s in limited minutes. Good luck to Jose Alvarado and the New York Knicks.
Photo Credits : Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Hi! My name is Elijah Vigo. I am a big New York Sports fan, including The New York Jets, New York Knicks and the New York Yankees. I have been doing journalism for my school for 2 years. I create sports designs of famous athletes, and I have my own sports media page called "Vigo Sports Talk" where I show clips of my podcast called "The New Era Jets" all about the Jets. I also like to share some of my sports designs on my page too. It has been my dream for the last few years to pursue a career in the sports media industry and in journalism.
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Vigo Sports Talk on IG and YT. Below this is all of my stories I've written for my school.
Elijah Vigo – NHS BEARS DEN
Great article!!! Keep them coming as the Knicks progress towards the championship!