Jose Alvarado stood in the back of Madison Square Garden, surrounded by reporters, but his words felt as if he were chatting with friends back in Brooklyn.
He expressed his loyalty to Jalen Brunson, who had been on the receiving end of a rough hit from Victor Wembanayama in Game 3. He didn’t hold back when talking about the Spurs’ towering superstar, who is, let’s say, quite a bit bigger than him.
“He got away with that,” Alvarado said ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. “That will be the last time.”
And then he proved it. A kid who grew up rooting for the Knicks transformed into a franchise hero during Wednesday’s game in Manhattan. Stepping in for the struggling Mikal Bridges late in the matchup, Alvarado contributed eight points, three assists, and two rebounds—all within the crucial final ten minutes of the Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback, leading to an incredible 107-106 win over the Spurs.
“It’s great to see him shine on a big stage like this,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “Jose Alvarado made it clear to everyone tonight that he’s a standout player.”
The Knicks had snagged the 28-year-old Alvarado from New Orleans on February 5, believing his experience and infectious energy would be the missing ingredients for a championship run.
Now, they are just one victory away from their first title in over half a century.
“He came in and completely changed the game for us,” stated Landry Shamet. “His energy is contagious. He was poised to step up and make significant plays.”
Before entering for the fourth quarter, Alvarado’s previous impact was marked by a smart steal from Wembanayama in the second quarter. But he quickly made his mark with 9:46 left, as the Knicks were down 93-75.
Alvarado sparked hope with a three-pointer on his first touch, assisted a three-pointer by Towns, snagged a rebound, and set up OG Anunoby for another triple, bringing the Knicks within striking distance. He even finished strong with a spin move in the lane, sank another three-pointer with just over three minutes left, and then assisted Brunson for a three to draw within a single point. With ten seconds on the clock, he swiped a missed shot by De’Aaron Fox and set up Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in.
“I almost cried. Not for that moment—there’s still one more game to go—but it’s special playing in Madison Square Garden at this time,” Alvarado shared. “I can’t quite express how amazing it feels.”
Originating from New York, the 6-footer goes full throttle without flinching in high-pressure moments.
His role at the start of the playoffs was somewhat uncertain. With minimal minutes in many games, it wasn’t until the NBA Finals that he gained traction, scoring seven points and grabbing four rebounds in Game 1. In Game 3, he came off the bench to spark the team with four points and three rebounds right away.
But in Game 4, he truly made a name for himself with the team he had always admired.
“There’s no one quite like him,” noted Mitchell Robinson. “He’s like a tenacious little pest who just does his thing.”
