Jose Alvarado’s Homecoming: Brooklyn’s Own Joins Knicks at Just the Right Time
BOSTON - Jose Alvarado’s NBA journey has never followed a straight path. Undrafted out of Georgia Tech despite a solid four-year college career, the Brooklyn native had more immediate concerns than dreaming of playing for his hometown team.
Just making a roster was the goal. But now, nearly five years after clawing his way into the league on a two-way contract with New Orleans, Alvarado is back where it all began - and the timing couldn’t be better for the New York Knicks.
The Knicks, dealing with a slew of injuries and looking to shore up their backcourt depth, made a flurry of moves ahead of the trade deadline. First, they offloaded Guerschon Yabusele and his contract to the Bulls in exchange for Dalen Terry. Then, in a quick pivot, they packaged Terry with two second-round picks to bring in Alvarado from the Pelicans - a savvy, defense-first guard who brings grit, energy, and a Bronx-born edge to Madison Square Garden.
For Alvarado, this wasn’t a move he saw coming. But it’s one that feels right.
“To be honest, I can’t say I ever dreamed about this,” Alvarado said before Sunday’s game in Boston. “There were big questions about whether I’d make it in the league at all.
So to be part of the city now, it’s surreal. I can’t wait to put the jersey on and get a few stops in it.”
If his phone was any indication, the city’s been waiting for him. Alvarado said he was flooded with messages from friends and family the moment the news broke. The love was immediate - and mutual.
“Too many [messages], but this is a blessing,” he said. “I’m from here.
My family never left the city. They’ve been Knicks fans probably since before me.
To be on a team that’s trying to contend for something - and for me to be part of it - that’s pretty special.”
The emotions are layered. There’s pride in coming home, excitement in joining a contender, and a quiet determination to make the most of the moment.
“It was a lot of mixed emotions when I heard it,” he admitted. “Coming back home, being here in the city that raised me - it’s a dope feeling.
Putting a Knicks jersey on is pretty surreal. I’m just trying to stay in the moment, you know what I’m saying?”
Alvarado isn’t walking into a locker room full of strangers, either. He’s got history with Josh Hart, who mentored him during his rookie year in New Orleans, and he’s faced off against several current Knicks over the years. That familiarity has helped ease the transition.
“Everybody’s so dope. They welcomed me with open arms,” Alvarado said.
“I’ve watched them play a lot. Some of the guys I’ve played with on different teams.
I’ve played against the Knicks. So it’s a dope feeling.
I’m excited, and I can’t wait to go play with them.”
The excitement is real - but so are the expectations. The Knicks are in the thick of a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.
With Miles McBride sidelined due to a core muscle injury, Alvarado’s role becomes even more important. He’s not just filling a roster spot - he’s being asked to help maintain the defensive intensity that’s become a hallmark of this Knicks team.
“We’ve gotta contend. We wanna win games, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Alvarado said.
“And I get to be a part of that. I’ve just gotta be myself.
Let’s get this ball rolling.”
That “self” is a relentless on-ball defender with a knack for disrupting opposing guards and igniting transition opportunities. His nickname, “Grand Theft Alvarado,” wasn’t given by accident - it was earned through years of pestering ball-handlers, picking pockets, and setting a tone with his energy.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown is already sold.
“He brings a level of toughness to this team. His energy is unmatched,” Brown said. “What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the front court - especially on pick-and-rolls - is at a pretty high level.”
Brown also pointed out an underrated part of Alvarado’s game: his shooting. This season in New Orleans, Alvarado averaged eight points, three assists, and a steal per game while knocking down 36% of his threes - more than respectable for a guard known primarily for his defense.
“He shoots it better than people think,” Brown said. “We want to play fast, and we believe he’s a guy who will come in, push the pace, get into our offense - all of that. He’s quick, has a low center of gravity - we’re excited to have him.”
So now, the stage is set. Alvarado’s back in New York, this time not as an underdog trying to make a name, but as a key piece on a team with serious playoff aspirations. He’s not just playing for a roster spot anymore - he’s playing for a city, for a team that’s looking to make a deep run, and for the people who’ve been with him since day one.
For the Knicks, the hope is that Alvarado’s return home isn’t just a good story - it’s a winning one.