Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jose Alvarado is back home to help the New York Knicks compete for an NBA championship.
Ahead of the NBA trade deadline, the Knicks traded Dalen Terry, who was acquired from the Chicago Bulls in the Guerschon Yabusele deal, along with two second-round picks for Alvarado. New York also sent out cash considerations. That is an incredibly low price for a 3-and-D guard, and New York made it happen.
Alvarado has consistently expressed his love for New York and the Knicks throughout his career. A Brooklyn native, his love for Madison Square Garden came from watching players like Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert, and Nate Robinson. He grew up a Knicks fan, and now he gets a chance to play for his favorite team.
With Miles McBride out until close to the playoffs due to a core injury, the Knicks need production from the scrappy guard. Through three games, Alvarado has fit in perfectly. His defensive intensity, deflections, and three-point shooting have already become major weapons for New York.
Already Making History
Alvarado closed the first half of the season with a stellar performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He dropped 26 points, knocked down eight 3-pointers (tying a career-high) and had five steals in 19 minutes off the bench.
It was one of the best stat lines from a bench player in recent memory. Even in a blowout, he maintained his intensity, grabbing two steals of his five steals in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 40 points over Philly.
Alvarado will likely see an increase in playing time as he continues to acclimate to the Knicks’ offensive and defensive systems. His never-satisfied approach is commendable, and he is committed to helping the Knicks win a championship. He even said he plans to spend extra time at the team facility during the All-Star break to get more reps in with the staff.
“No break for me I’m going to try to stay here, get a lot of reps in. Just get comfortable with everything – offense, defense. Just get a good rhythm,” said Alvarado to Knicks reporter Ian Begley.
Bringing Toughness to the Knicks
One of Alvarado’s calling cards is showing toughness in the face of opponents.
The Knicks needed an enforcer, someone willing to check opponents after hard fouls, create chaos, and stand up for teammates. Earlier in January, against the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green got under Karl-Anthony Towns’ skin, and no one stepped in. Alvarado will not let that slide. He will get into it with the opposition, and the team will feed off that energy.
Having grown up in Brooklyn, Alvarado is not someone to mess around with. His toughness will resonate with the New York Knicks fanbase and make him an instant favorite, even beyond his play on the court.
Alvarado brings the full package; Likability, toughness, and a dependable skill set could make him one of the most popular Knicks in recent memory.
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