Knicks Celebrate First Title in 53 Years

After the Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in over five decades, guard Jose Alvarado Jr. brought his father into the locker room for an incredible merchandise celebration.

“He handed me the whole outfit: jersey, shorts, sneakers, headband, championship shirt. He said, ‘Dad, take this. It’s wet, but put it on,’” recalled Alvarado Sr., who is 49 years old.

The beaming father, a Brooklyn electrician, raised his son in the projects at Wythe and Division avenues in Williamsburg. He admitted to shedding tears after the historic win. “Being from New York, winning here with the team was something special,” he shared.

At just 19, Alvarado Sr. became a father. Knowing how tough the environment could be, he made sure to fill his children’s schedules with sports to keep them out of trouble.

“Williamsburg is different now, but back in my day, it was rough—filled with drugs, gangs, and violence. I was always trying to steer him away from that life,” he explained.

Initially, Jose Jr. leaned toward football, but since there wasn’t a tackle football league for kids nearby, his father drove him two and a half hours to a pee-wee league in Staten Island.

“I’d finish work by 1:30 p.m., get home by 3, and then take buses to get there. It was a journey, for sure,” Alvarado Sr. noted, reflecting on his time as a union electrician.

When his son turned eight, the family relocated to Flushing, Queens, for better opportunities in sports. Young Jose started playing basketball at PS/MS 200 and joined a few streetball teams. His talent caught the eye of Nick Sanchez, an assistant coach from the renowned Christ the King High School team, who invited him to a basketball camp.

“I immediately asked how much it was,” Alvarado Sr. recalled. “He said, ‘About $225 a week.’ I thought, ‘Okay, let me find a way to make that happen.’”

When he picked up Jose Jr. on the camp’s last day, coach Joe Albatello asked if he could keep him for two more weeks. “As long as it’s free,” was his joking response, which earned a laugh from the coach.

“He promised he’d take care of it,” Alvarado Sr. added with a grin.

With his son at Christ the King and participating in the AAU program, Jose Sr. worked overtime and sacrificed weekends just to attend games. “Even when they lost, there was this hope. I’d think to myself, ‘How am I going to make it to work after this?’” he recalled, with a hint of exhaustion in his voice. Additionally, his other son, Jeremy, also played basketball there.

Slowly but surely, college scouts began to notice Jose Jr. “The first one to approach me was Georgetown. Then things just took off from there,” he explained. “One day, Coach Passner from Georgia Tech showed up at my door.”

At Georgia Tech, Jose Jr. gained the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado” for his impressive base-stealing skills, but his dad often missed games due to work. “I ended up being his biggest fan, cheering him on from the TV,” Alvarado Sr. shared. “I was practically his publicist.”

Jose Jr. acknowledged his father’s influence, stating he admired his dad’s perseverance. He signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021, but in February, his dad had to break the news of his trade to the Knicks over FaceTime.

“He had mixed feelings about it. He was loyal to the Pelicans,” Alvarado Sr. stated.

Knowing the significance of the number five—Jose Jr. was traded on the 5th and his daughter’s birthday is on the 5th—Alvarado Sr. felt confident the Knicks would win Game 5 of the Finals. “It’s a special number for us,” he added.

His son’s recent signing of a three-year contract with the Knicks, valued at over $14 million, filled Alvarado Sr. with pride. “Now he can provide for his family,” he said.

The father is still soaking in the championship victory, recalling moments like meeting Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. “He turned to me and asked, ‘Who are you with?’ I told him, ‘With Alvarado.’ He was joking around and said he loved my kid,” Alvarado Sr. laughed, recalling the interaction.

Watching his son ride atop the float in the ticker-tape parade was surreal, particularly when he observed the kids’ reactions. “They were so excited, saying, ‘Don’t touch my hat! He signed it!’ That’s when I realized, ‘Wow, this kid can really make a difference,’” he reflected, a sense of joy in his voice.