Jose Alvarado at home in Madison Square Garden | NBA

“If you had told me five years ago that I would experience something like this, I would not have believed you, it’s a dream come true…”

A kid from New York, who grew up in Queens, Jose Alvarado was over the moon. Undrafted, rookie and in a “two-way contract”, the 1m83 point guard not only had the best game of his young NBA career, with 13 points, 4 assists and 4 interceptions, but above all he allowed his Pelicans to win on the floor of the Knicks (102-91).

“When we were at the shootaround, I was already ecstatic: ‘Wow, I’m going to play Madison Square Garde’n. It was a really amazing feeling already”, he reveals for the Times Picayune. “When I saw the fans start to arrive and people I know who came to cheer me on, I knew, I felt it was going to be one of those very special nights. “

In front of his family and many relatives, who were able to come thanks to Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram who offered a few tickets to welcome everyone to the Garden, Jose Alvarado was the X factor for the Pels.

Shine in front of loved ones

With his energy in defense and his opportunism in attack, symbolized by this basket of rapine when Evan Fournier, Alec Burks and Julius Randle all three pass through, he was a real ball of energy. He also came to light by stealing the ball from the hands of Immanuel Quickley at the end of the 3rd quarter.

A defensive specialist at Georgia Tech, where he spent four years as the ACC Conference’s top defenseman, Jose Alvarado is a bit “light” physically for the NBA, but he makes up for it with his speed of execution and a game more and more clean. Last night, at his home in New York, he felt comfortable and success followed.

“It was a great feeling to see everyone again. They want me to succeed. I have worked very hard and it is finally paying off” he concludes thus.

His first professional match at the Garden