Three games into his Knicks tenure, Jose Alvarado is already stirring up memories of a trade deadline spark that changed the course of a season. Knicks fans remember that 2023 deal - Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, and a first-round pick sent to Portland for Josh Hart - as the move that launched a 21-8 finish and the franchise’s first playoff series win in a decade. Now, with Alvarado in the mix, the early returns are giving off a familiar vibe.
The Alvarado Effect
Let’s start with what’s jumped off the screen: Alvarado’s energy is contagious. In just three games, he’s averaging 14 points, 3.7 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals - and those numbers come against some of the league’s toughest competition. Two blowout road wins over the Celtics and Sixers, plus a hard-fought overtime loss to the Pacers, have given fans a quick glimpse of what Alvarado brings to the table.
And what he brings is exactly what the scouting report promised: he’s undersized, sure, but he’s relentless. He doesn’t just play defense - he lives in the opponent’s jersey.
From the moment he stepped onto the floor in a Knicks uniform, Alvarado was on the attack. Full-court pressure, sideline traps, and those signature sneaky steals - it’s all there.
In his Knicks debut, he didn’t wait to make an impression. He hounded Payton Pritchard, last year’s Sixth Man of the Year, from baseline to baseline.
He forced a turnover in the first quarter and trapped Pritchard near half court in the second. He even disrupted Boston’s late-quarter action, stepping in to switch onto Jaylen Brown and freeing up Jalen Brunson from a tough matchup - a savvy move that shows just how quickly he’s picking up the Knicks’ defensive schemes.
Mike Brown clearly took notice. Alvarado logged 12 straight minutes in his first game, and with Miles McBride sidelined, there’s been no hesitation in handing him real minutes.
It’s already clear: Alvarado isn’t here to be a bit player. He’s in the rotation, and he’s here to stay.
Defensive Chaos, Alvarado-Style
Through three games, Alvarado has racked up seven steals, and each one seems more improbable than the last. He’s the smallest guy on the floor most nights, but he plays like someone with a seven-foot wingspan and a sixth sense for passing lanes.
Against Philadelphia, he didn’t just pester - he dominated. Five steals, eight threes, and a presence that completely disrupted the Sixers’ rhythm.
That kind of stat line in just 19 minutes? That’s not just hustle - that’s impact.
Offense: A Work in Progress, But Promising
While defense comes naturally to Alvarado, offense is where the adjustment curve lies. But so far, the early signs are encouraging.
He came over from New Orleans shooting 36% from deep and averaging just over three assists per game. In New York, those numbers have ticked upward - 45% from three and 3.7 assists per contest. It’s a small sample size, but it’s exactly what the Knicks need from him: spacing the floor and keeping the ball moving.
And if there were any doubts about his green light from Coach Brown, his performance against the Sixers answered them. Thirteen three-point attempts - a career high - and eight makes, tying his personal best set back in 2022. That’s 10 threes in three games for New York, after hitting 70 in 41 games with the Pelicans.
The Knicks have made it clear they want to shoot more from deep. Last season, they ranked 27th in attempts.
This year? Ninth.
They’ve been averaging just over 40 threes per game over their last 10. Alvarado fits that mold - a willing shooter who can get hot in a hurry.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The advanced metrics tell the same story the eye test does: Alvarado is making a difference. In 62 minutes with the Knicks, the team is +42.
Offensively, they’re humming at a 133.9 rating. Defensively, they’re locking in at 99.2.
Even more telling? When Jalen Brunson sits, the Knicks are still thriving with Alvarado on the floor.
In the 34 minutes without Brunson, New York is +18, with a 132.4 offensive rating and a 104.3 defensive rating. That’s a massive development for a team that has struggled to generate offense without their All-Star point guard.
The Towns-Alvarado Connection
One storyline to watch after the All-Star break: Alvarado and Karl-Anthony Towns have barely shared the floor without Brunson. Just 25 of Alvarado’s minutes without Brunson have come alongside Towns - but that’s likely to change.
Why does it matter? Because Alvarado is one of the few secondary ball-handlers on this roster who can consistently get Towns the ball in his spots.
Already, three of Alvarado’s 11 assists as a Knick have gone directly to Towns. No other player has taken more shots off Alvarado’s passes, per NBA tracking data.
That’s not just chemistry - that’s a budding connection that could unlock a new dimension in the Knicks’ offense. With Brunson off the floor, the Knicks rank in the 27th percentile in points per possession. But with Alvarado and Towns together, there’s a real chance to change that narrative.
Final Thoughts
It’s early, and three games don’t make a season. But Jose Alvarado is already showing signs of being the kind of midseason addition that can shift a team’s trajectory. He brings grit, vision, and just enough chaos to keep opponents guessing.
Knicks fans have seen this story before - a trade deadline move that injects life into the roster and helps push the team to another level. If Alvarado keeps this up, the Knicks might’ve just pulled off another one.