Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, makes his Knicks debut: 'I just feel like it was meant to be'
Jose Alvarado of the New York Knicks knocks the ball away from Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at TD Garden on Sunday. Credit: Getty Images/Winslow Townson
BOSTON — Midway through the fourth quarter, Jose Alvarado let fly with a three-pointer from the corner, right in front of the Celtics’ bench, and when it missed everything, the players on the bench let him know it. But rather than sulk, he did what he has done for his entire career — sneaking up behind Jaylen Brown near midcourt, poking the ball free and then hitting a layup ahead of the defense.
Then he turned to the Celtics’ bench and let them know, too.
“They basically said, ‘You’re going to miss,’ ” Alvarado said. “And I said, ‘That’s how you get it back,’ you know what I’m saying? Who cares about the miss if you get it back on the back tip and layup, and it worked out in my favor.”
Alvarado’s arrival in a trade deadline deal may have felt like an emotional maneuver, returning the Brooklyn-born guard to his hometown team. But more than just a chance to see his family, which still resides in the same home, he gave the Knicks what they desperately needed on the court — an infusion of defense, toughness and energy.
With one walk-through his only chance to acclimate himself to the team, Alvarado contributed 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals, a block and six deflections in 25:04, pestering Payton Pritchard and Brown all over the court in the Knicks’ 111-89 win on Sunday.
Even before the backcourt steal, he raced out to pick up Brown on the final possession of the third quarter, stripping him in the lane and flexing to the Knicks’ bench.
Alvarado may be the type of player that teammates and fans enjoy much more when he’s in their uniform than when he’s sneaking up behind them or even throwing punches.
Sunday featured some emotion for him, even as his Knicks debut came at TD Garden rather than Madison Square Garden.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “But I just feel like it was meant to be. It feels like I’ve been part of it for a while, even though it was the first game. Like it felt like nothing. It felt like home. It felt like it was supposed to happen this way. And I’m glad it did.”
The 27-year-old went undrafted after stellar careers at Christ the King High School and Georgia Tech, but in five seasons with the Pelicans he established himself as a defensive pest. He’s also a point guard who can help relieve the pressure on Jalen Brunson.
Asked how many calls he’s gotten since the trade, he said, “Too many. Too many. But like I said, this is a blessing. I’m from here. My family never left the city. To be in that atmosphere, I mean, they’ve been Knicks fans since before me. To be with a team that’s trying to contend for something and me be a part of it is pretty special.
“To be honest, I can’t even say I ever dreamed about this. If you know my story, I’m not saying I wasn’t going to make it to the NBA, but it was a big question for me. To be part of the city, it’s just a surreal feeling.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
